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 20 years, the two of them have travelled extensively since including journeys through the Middle East which included the ancient monuments of Jordan, Libya and Syria.
She has continued to study and regularly paints at Constable Boat House studios where she gains insight and inspiration from artist Kevin Chapman. Maintaining an apartment in central London Helen’s principal home is in a Gloucestershire village, a recent business decentralisation by her partner James has resulted in her acquiring her own studio premises in Long Street, Tetbury.
What she likes do
She particularly enjoys landscape painting and loves the outdoors. Helen is inspired by the colours and textures of diverse landscapes – from hills and mountains to seascapes and boats, to buildings within the landscape. A regular visitor to the West Indies and the Mediterranean, seascapes from Antigua jostle with mountain views of Majorca in her portfolio.
As a frequent traveller, she has found inspiration in the light and drama of distant lands. By experimenting with diverse textures and techniques, and with a love of colour she aims to achieve vibrancy and atmosphere in her painting. A diverse range of patrons have commissioned various subject matters that now grace the walls of many homes from New Zealand to Richmond Park.
Career summary
Helen works from her studio in Tetbury, Gloucestershire and in addition to accepting specific commissions, exhibits regularly offering her work for sale at a variety of venues and shows, most recently The Belfry Golf Club, Baunton Manor, Ampney Park and Art House Open Studios.
She shows with the Fosseway Artists and previous exhibitions include Chelsea Town Hall, the Shaftesbury Centre, Richmond Art Fair, The Jersey Galleries at Osterley Park and Valley Artists in Daglingworth, Gloucestershire.