Leonie is from the Inverell area in NSW, where many of her people still remain. Her family were part of the stolen generation, where families were broken up and the children put into foster homes.Leonie is from the Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay) mob.

Leonie started to paint at a very young age and her art depicts her family life and the Aboriginal heritage that comes from her inner self. Today Leonie resides on the Gold Coast with her family and is recognized as one of Queensland’s leading Aboriginal artists.