Sheila Lea

Lea was born in London to a Scottish father, Norman Maclagan, and his wife, Olive, who was from Cornwall.^[1] Lea spent part of her childhood at Bruton in Somerset before attending the Bournemouth College of Art where she was taught by the sculptor Joseph Hermon Cawthra.^[1][2] After moving to London to study at the Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art, Lea returned to Bournemouth where she lived for the rest of her life.^[2][3] From there she produced statuettes and sculpture groups in both bronze and plaster and was particularly noted for her portrait work.^[1][2][3] From 1946 to 1983 Lea was a regular exhibitor at Royal Academy group shows in London.^[1][2] She also had pieces shown at the Paris Salon, with the Society of Women Artists and with the Bournemouth Arts' Club of which she was a member.^[1][2][3] The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum has examples of her work.^[2]