Leslie McGuirk

LESLIE McGUIRK founded the design studio of McGuirk’s Quirks, and her lively earth friendly images created a marketing phenomenon in Japan. Some of her clients include Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Asatu, Proctor and Gamble, Meiji Lactic, and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. Her designs were used for the redecoration of the official Tokyo Disneyland hotel. Her private label line, called “The World of Leslie McGuirk” was developed in conjunction with her client Takashimaya, the high end Japanese department store. All of her designs have an animal and environmental theme, which were inspired by her years of working as a global research volunteer for EARTHWATCH. Leslie has taught dolphins language in Hawaii, measured the effects of global warming in Trinidad, and helped preserve a bird sanctuary in Spain. Over 800 products featuring these nature-based designs have been sold in Japan and the United States.

Leslie has written and illustrated eleven children’s picture books. Her series about Pip the Penguin, originally published by Macmillan in the UK, sold over 600,000 copies internationally. Her holiday series about Tucker the Terrier is fast becoming a favorite, and is currently under negotiations to be made into animation. Her current project is WIGGENS AT THE FOUR SEASONS, a book of manners gone to the dogs, written in conjunction with Alex von Bidder, managing partner of the famous NYC landmark restaurant.

Leslie McGuirk grew up in Bronxville, New York, and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied fiction writing. She did not receive any formal training in art, and her picture books were rejected for many years before finally getting published in Japan. Her experiences with rejection, and her desire to have a creative life, gave her the inspiration to start a workshop about how to have creative and innovative thoughts. She figured out a way to teach others how to see the world in a new way. This workshop was originally developed at Rancho La Puerta, one of the top five spas in the world. It was there that visiting corporate CEO’s realized she was onto something. She has taught her method at the corporate headquarters of Wachovia Bank, The Jim Henson Company, and The M Financial Group. In addition, she has been a frequent presenter at The Golden Door spa, and Red Mountain Spa. One of her favorite groups to teach are those who are dealing with children everyday. She has led workshops at conferences for Staff Development of Educators, as well as library groups. Her belief is that we can re-learn how to wake up our sensory selves so that inspiration follows.

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