Leigh Barry Watercolors in Camden

Leigh Barry Watercolors & Gifts is one of the newest shops to open in Camden, but its story stretches back decades. Leigh first began watercoloring when she was 19, hand-painting her father’s intricate pen-and-ink prints in Maryland. What began as a family business became a lifelong calling. Leigh worked with her father for ten years before shifting her focus to raising her seven children, selling her own prints in stores and eventually on Etsy. After a brief career in nursing, she returned to art full-time.

Her shop on High Street is a cheerful, colorful reflection of everything Leigh loves: bold watercolors, scenes of Maine and Ireland, and a joy-first approach to art. Her most popular subject is lupines, and she has painted thousands over the years. "I just paint what I love," she says. "And if it makes someone else happy, that means a lot to me." In addition to her own originals and prints, the shop features oil paintings by her son, Tim Nodar, and a growing collection of Irish-themed artwork.

Though Leigh only moved to Camden in late 2023, she says she always dreamed of ending up here. "It’s a walkable town, it has everything I need, and it just feels right," she says. Now, with her studio and storefront just steps from her home, she hopes the shop will become a space that welcomes others to slow down, take in the color, and feel a bit of joy.

FAMOUS FOR:
Best known for her joyful watercolor lupines, Leigh’s work captures the places people long to return to, even if just in spirit.

ADDRESS:
94 Elm St, Camden, ME

WEBSITE:
leighbarrywatercolors.com

photos by Peter Logue