I’m Rachel Leahy, an award-winning Irish artist and internationally commissioned live event illustrator.
My work has been recognised with Best Live Wedding Artist 2024 (ROI) at the Lux Life Global Wedding Awards and I was Highly Commended as Creative Professional of the Year at the Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year Awards - honours that reflect both my artistry and the experience I create around it.
With a background in Business & Event Management and a lifelong connection to fashion, inspired by my mother, a dressmaker, I approach each commission with a couture sensibility and deep respect for craftsmanship. My illustrations are not created to scale or strict proportion; they are interpreted with intention. I focus on movement, silhouette, personality and detail, capturing the essence of a moment rather than simply replicating it.
I work internationally across luxury private celebrations, brand activations and curated events - most frequently in Ireland, the UK, and the East Coast of the United States.
With over 150 luxury events behind me and thousands of personalised portraits created, I thrive in collaborations where creativity, elegance, and connection matter.
At the heart of my studio is a simple purpose:
To create art and experiences that foster meaningful human connections, celebrating genuine craftsmanship, creative expression and understated luxury.
Creativity has always felt natural to me.
My Journey
Before I was born, my mother worked as a dressmaker. She later stepped away from it to raise our family, but her talent never disappeared, it simply became part of our home. I grew up watching her alter garments for friends and family, noticing the quiet precision in how she worked, and absorbing a deep respect for craftsmanship without even realising it.
There was always fabric, making, adjusting, refining, and that sensitivity to detail shaped the way I see the world.
Although I went on to study Business & Event Management, creativity remained constant.
Over time, I found myself drawn more and more to observing people- the way they stand, the way they move, the way personality reveals itself through clothing and posture.
When I began illustrating at live events, everything came together. My understanding of events, my appreciation for craftsmanship, and my instinct for observation merged into something that felt entirely natural.
My work isn’t about strict proportion or perfect replication. It’s about interpretation, capturing essence, energy and individuality through expressive, fashion-inspired portraiture.
What started as something instinctive has grown into an internationally commissioned practice, grounded in care, connection and considered artistry.
If you’d like to follow along as the journey evolves, you can find recent work and studio moments on Instagram.
