Vivid and energetic, Leonard's works seize the viewer in a riot of colour. Yet they equally reward a closer, more sustained gaze - built up in layers of thick oils, the surfaces are rich deposits recording the expressive gestures of Leonard's brush. Intriguingly, Leonard's compositions often initially contain figurative elements that are gradually obscured by subsequent layers, leaving them like buried secrets beneath the surface. In her later works, Leonard applies a thick coat of resin mid-way through the painting, sealing everything below it, and then works on top of this glossy surface, adding another dimension of depth to the layered surfaces of her works.

Leonard's use of colour also invites closer engagement; while she works intuitively, her vibrant palettes strive towards a fine horizon - what she terms "the critical point where prettiness of colour could tip over the edge." In her most recent exhibition, Let Them Eat Cake, inspired by Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette, Leonard explored this critical point as a parallel to the point at which the sensuousness and beauty of the 18th century French court could tip over into excess and debauchery. However, as Elizabeth Caughey writes, the most compelling aspect of Leonard's art is their brimming energy and delight; for Caughey, Leonard "paints pure joy manifested as hot, molten colour."