Leslie Peebles was born in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1959, lived in the suburbs of New York City until 1971 when she and her family moved to Suwannee County, Florida where her father became a Broiler Chicken Producer for Gold Kist. Living on the 80-acre farm near the Suwannee River fostered a deep love, respect and fascination for nature. 

Leslie attended The University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee and received her B.A. in Studio Art from Newcomb College in New Orleans in 1981. Leslie moved to Gainesville in 1985 and received an M.A. in Art Education from U.F. in 1994. She taught Art for 17 years in Florida. 

Leslie has won numerous awards including first place from Coconut Grove, Tallahassee, Mount Dora, and the Morse Museum Award from Winter Park. She is currently represented by McIntyre Studios in Gainesville, High Tides Gallery in St. Augustine, Clay and Paper Gallery in Dunedin, Gallery Rinard in New Orleans, and River’s Edge Gallery, Apalachicola.