London

In the early 1970’s, after her divorce from Hans and her period with Cecily Sash, Leda went to London for a short time with Rosemary Bamford. It was a distinct period in her life, and one that exposed her to a very different artistic environment from the one she had known in South Africa.

Leda had met Rosemary in 1969. Rosemary lectured in English and theatre at the University of Pietermaritzburg. In London, they rented a garden flat in the Hampstead Heath area.

During this period, Leda produced her first significant body of work, now known as the ‘London Series’. These works marked an important stage in her development and remain one of the key periods in her art.

Rosemary’s interest in theatre and the arts was something Leda shared. 

Their time in London included visits to exhibitions and theatrical productions, and Leda was particularly drawn to the sharp geometric forms and abstract language of European artists such as Piet Mondrian. This found clear expression in the work she produced there.