Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

In 2021 the artist MONO was commissioned by Leicester City Council to design and create a piece of work depicting the Battle Of Bosworth, part of the Wars Of The Roses for the side of a building just off King Richards Road the aim being to enhance the route into the city and highlight links to King Richard III.  Seen depicted in the work is King Richard in full armor on horseback riding into battle with various knights and other soldiers in battle with each other, also in the scene is Richards standard and shield.   The work is part of a scheme to attract visitors and shoppers to the area that will include shutter vinyls and more on the route that it is believed King Richard III was brought into the city after defeat in battle.

As part of the National Galleries "Coming Home" project well known portraits are "loaned" to the place most linked to the person featured, in this case King Richard III whose remains where famously found under a car park in the city of Leicester in 2012. The (surprisingly small) late 16th century portrait is hung at the New Walk Museum in the city as the centerpiece of an exhibition exploring the story of the King, the discovery of his remains and what these reveal about his life and death. The exhibition in partnership with Leicester Cathedral and The King Richard Visitor Center runs until September 22nd 2019 and is well worth a visit to see this historic portrait in person.

After the Castle Classic pro-cycling race ( see previous post here ) sped through the city the public where invited to take to the traffic free streets for the HSBC UK CITY RIDE LEICESTER. The event featured hundreds of people "reclaiming the streets" on bikes of all shapes and sizes and for the first time the cyclists where accompanied by decorated Rickshaws and Dhol drummers as part of An Indian Summer Festival this made for a vibrant and colorful parade as they moved through the city. My film Rickshaws and Riders aims to capture the colors and sounds of the event and give a idea of the exiting atmosphere as the streets of Leicester come alive with the sounds of South Asian Culture in the UK.

While visiting King Richard III`s Tomb in Leicester Cathedral with relatives from Australia we where treated to a rehearsal performance by the London Concertante Chamber Orchestra who would be performing later that evening by candlelight. In the presence of the king we sat captivated as the sounds of strings and harpsichord filled every part of this historic building I`m sure the king would have certainly approved. To find out more about London Concertante please visit their website at http://www.londonconcertante.com images follow

On Friday 27th March a week of events marking the reinterment of king Richard III concluded with a spectacular firework display from the roof of Leicester Cathedral and Leicester Glows a fire garden featuring over 8.000 flames placed around the city's old town. The evening began with a spectacular firework display from the roof of the cathedral with bright colors and fiery serpents snaking into the sky delighting the gathered crowd in the cathedral gardens many joked that after having just getting settled King Richard might be awoken by the noise. The mood changed to one of quiet wonder as the crowds dispersed into the fire garden in front of the cathedral and surrounding streets where over 8.000 flames flickered and bathed the area in candlelight. Meanwhile in the courtyard of the RIII visitor center the outline of Richards crown was created by spark arts using night light candles. images follow

On the 22nd March The university of Leicester transferred the mortal remains of King Richard III to the city's Cathedral where they will be reburied. The Kings remains left the University before visiting several villages in Leicestershire and the battlefield in Bosworth where he fell they then returned to the city via the Bow Bridge which Richard crossed both on his way into battle and once again when he returned defeated by Henry Tudor. The coffin was transferred to a horse drawn carriage at St Nicholas Church the City's oldest before traveling around the city ending at the Cathedral where a evening service of compline was held watched by hundreds as the sun set on big screens at various locations around the city concluding the first day of a historic week for the city of Leicester. My video aims to give a feeling of the atmosphere of the historic day showing the crowds gathering before the coffin passes by Jubilee Square, being taken into the cathedral and ending with a v...

My film features highlights of Leicester City Festival a series of free festival events including the BBC WW1 at home road show, the Sky Ride cycling event, Sports festival and the Journeys festival all taking place at various locations around the city centre.

Kirby Castle is an unfinished 15th century fortified manor house in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire. Begun in 1480 by William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, during the period of the Wars of the Roses. He already owned a manor house on the site (some of the original manor house foundations are visible as ruins within the enclosure of the castle), for which he planned to totally redevelop. Work stopped at the castle when he was executed in 1483 for treason by Richard III and it was never completed. My film try`s to capture the spooky atmosphere and the history of the buildings remains which are now owned by English Heritage. Images follow.