- By Sakshi Srivastava
- Thu, 24 Jul 2025 02:00 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
By day, he has no artistic training. By night, he’s sketching Marilyn Monroe. Meet Lee Hadwin, a man whose creative genius awakens only when he’s asleep. He doesn’t remember making his art, can’t replicate it when awake, and yet, collectors around the world—including Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump—have paid six figures for his dream-born drawings. Welcome to the fascinating world of the "Sleep Artist."
The Unconscious Brushstrokes
Lee Hadwin’s story began when he was just four years old, sleep-scribbling on the walls of his home in North Wales. What seemed like typical childhood behavior turned out to be anything but. As he grew older, the scribbles transformed into detailed and emotionally rich portraits—all created in his sleep.
Art by Lee Hadwin. (Image Source: Lee Hadwin/SWNS)
At 15, he astonished his art teachers by presenting three portraits of Marilyn Monroe. Their reaction? “Why can’t you do this in class?” Lee couldn’t answer. When awake, he had no apparent artistic skill and struggled to reproduce the same quality of work.
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What Do Scientists Say?
Sleepwalking and talking are relatively common. But sleep-drawing? That’s rare. According to Penny Lewis from Cardiff University, such behavior may stem from a brain imbalance during sleep—where the rational part of the brain is asleep, but the limbic system, which governs emotions, remains active. This could potentially explain Lee’s subconscious creativity. Even with decades of research and video recordings made by his partner, doctors and scientists in the UK and abroad still cannot fully explain the phenomenon.
Fame Born From The Shadows
Lee’s journey to international acclaim began with a small exhibition in Denbigh in 2007, which caught the attention of global media. Since then, his works—ranging from horses and human figures to surreal landscapes and abstract montages—have been exhibited and sold around the world, especially in China and Japan.
Some of his pieces have sold for six-figure sums, and celebrities like Kim Kardashian have purchased his artwork. But the fame came with pressure. As Lee puts it, “Only about one in 50 sleepwalking attempts” produces a piece worth keeping.
From Ghostbusters To Global Recognition
Now living in Australia with his partner, Lee is set to be the subject of an episode of The Unbelievable, a new series hosted by Dan Aykroyd (of Ghostbusters fame) on the History Channel. The episode will delve into his mysterious condition with expert analysis, while Lee works on his upcoming memoir, The Art of Fame, set for release in early 2026. He’s also in talks with producers about adapting his story for platforms like Netflix, Apple TV, or STAN. Reflecting on the surreal nature of it all, Lee said: “I remember being 10 years old waiting in line to see Ghostbusters in 1985. Now the main actor is doing a show on me. Life is so strange.”
More Than Just Art
Lee isn’t just an artist. He’s also a committed fundraiser, having raised over 300,000 Euros for the Missing People charity. Despite his unusual talent, he remains grounded, keeping his supplies in a drawer—ready for when inspiration strikes during sleep. Sometimes, he even improvises. Once, he used chicken bones and coal from a barbecue to draw on plasterboard. But he admits the unpredictability of his condition can be exhausting. After a night of drawing, he often wakes with migraines and extreme fatigue.
Living The Mystery
Today, Lee completes around 20 pieces a year, often going months without producing anything, then suddenly creating a masterpiece. He’s learned to surrender to the flow: “I’ve had to learn to go with the flow... that helps me relax enough to produce more work.” Despite all the exhibitions, celebrity fans, and media attention, one truth remains: Lee Hadwin still has no idea why he can create art only in his sleep.
