Inspiring, magical, and healing, are words that have been used to describe Lesley’s storytelling.  As a child, Lesley was enthralled by stories and songs on her mother’s knee, reciting Incy Wincy Spider together and pestering her granny for another of her great leprechaun stories.

Later, as an adult, realising the healing power of stories, Lesley pursued the use of storytelling as a tool for personal development and recovery, in Women’s Aid refuges and in drug, alcohol and mental health support groups.

With a background in Community Education, Lesley has worked for Glasgow Women’s Aid since 1993, as a Family Resource Worker and registered as a professional storyteller in 2005.  She likes to combine her skills as a professional singer, and creative writing facilitator with storytelling, alongside her belief in the power of creative words to stimulate good health and chaired Lapidus Scotland for many years, promoting this cause.

In 2015 Lesley formed the band ‘Kittlin’, an all female line up with fiddle, flute, accordion and guitar, singing original material inspired by traditional folktales and the people and landscape of Scotland.  Weaving storytelling into the set, Kittlin often casts light upon girls, women and goddesses, creating 21st century folktales, poetry and song. Lesley has worked freelance in many projects, collaborating with, for example, the NHS (‘Move on Up: Stories of recovery from addiction’ (www.storiesofrecovery.org.uk) Glasgow Carers forum, GAMH as well as the Scottish Storytelling Centre, nurseries and schools.

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