Leslie began her artistic career by studying theatre, which detoured into a study of nursing, during which she became interested in the visual arts. 

This led her to complete a degree in art while working full time as an RN. It was during this time that she was first introduced to metals and jewelry, which subsequently knocked her socks off and quickly became her media of choice, and love of her life.

Feeling called to create, teach and inspire others on a more full time basis, she retired from nursing in 1995 to pursue graduate studies, returning to Chicago in 1997 as a full time artist and teacher while completing a Masters degree in Metals and jewelry from the Savanna College of Art and Design.