Education and qualifications
Born in Yorkshire, Helen’s early days were spent in her home city of Kingston upon Hull. Encouraged by her parents to embrace the wide open spaces of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors, a huge source of inspiration in her early years, she won the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold award and started her career as an artist in earnest.
After an intensive period of study she took and passed Oxbridge, although ultimately opted for a place at Sheffield University where she read English literature. Following her graduation a natural progression saw her move south where she discovered fellow artists resident in West London.
Attending formal art classes she becoming particularly interested in water based media from the early 1980s. A chance liaison on a river boat sailing on the River Thames in the mid 1990s resulted in Helen undertaking an extended world trip with her partner of 26 years, the two of them have travelled extensively since. Helen’s paintings are frequently inspired by the diverse landscapes and cultures experienced on those trips.
Whilst still maintaining an apartment in central London, an opportunity to visit exhibitions, Helen’s principal home is in a Cotswold village, her studio at 5a Long Street, Tetbury, above partner James’s office.
What she likes do
She particularly enjoys landscape painting and loves the outdoors. Helen is inspired by the light, colours and textures of diverse cultures and landscapes – from hills and mountains to dramatic seascapes and skies, to buildings within the landscape and colourful gardens. Iceland, the Mediterranean, Japan and the Middle East all feature, together with local Cotswold scenes.
Water based painting is her favourite medium, working in both watercolour and acrylic on paper and canvas. By experimenting with diverse textures and techniques, and with a love of colour she aims to achieve vibrancy and atmosphere in her painting.
Career summary
Helen has delivered commissions to a number of clients, some from as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and the US. Subjects have ranged from autumnal scenes to portraits of homes and gardens to interpretations of favourite photographs.
In addition to accepting specific commissions, Helen has exhibited at a number of venues over the years, including Chelsea Town Hall, The Belfry Golf Club, Richmond Art Fair, The Jersey Galleries at Osterley Park, Baunton Manor, Ampney Park, Wallworth Hall and a Summer Show at 54 The Gallery, London. A forthcoming exhibition, Cultures & Creatures at the Cornium Museum, Cirencester is a collaboration with local wildlife photographer Leslie Holmes.