Education
1985 BTEC Cleveland College of Art
1988 BA (Hons) Fine Art Canterbury College of Art
1993 MA Fine Art University of Northumbria

Work
1988-1990 Lecturer Art Foundation course at Frederick University Cyprus
1990-1999 Lecturer Art Foundation and Undergraduate courses at Cleveland College of Art
1999-2023 Interior Designer for residential properties. The UK.
 
Exhibitions and Prizes
2024 Women In Art Mall Galleries
2024 RBSA Summer Exhibition
2024 Longlisted Jacksons Art Prize
2024 Society of Women Artists Mall Galleries

Biography
Helen is an artist proud to be from the North East of England and now lives in the beautiful Cotswolds. She has recently dedicated herself full-time to her painting practice. With a Master's in Fine Art and experience as an Art College Lecturer and Interior Designer, she has honed her keen eye for colour and surface. Helen particularly enjoys portraiture, as it allows her to uncover the history and personality of her subjects. Additionally, she is working on a new body of work that explores the concept of "Home" - investigating what home might mean to different people and whether it is a place or an experience. If you're interested in her work, feel free to contact her for sales, commissions, or to join her creative workshops.

Artists Statement
I fall a little in love with every figure I paint and each artwork I admire. From Vermeer's "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" to Andrew Cranston's "Why Can't I Be You?", I find myself delving into their world and living their touching stories.

In today's divided world, creating portraits offers a chance to reveal a multi-layered narrative. It's a privilege to hear someone's thoughts and experiences and then capture their essence in an image that showcases their unique perspective. When we gain deep insight into someone's world, seeing them as "other" or different from us becomes difficult.

When I'm not painting portraits, I'm working on a new series called "Home", a deeply personal exploration of the concept of 'home' and its emotional significance. Like many people, I've lived in various places, and the idea of "home" didn't seem necessary. Like the song, it was "wherever I hung my hat". However, this changed when my parents passed away. Despite being in my fifties, I suddenly felt orphaned and rootless. My parents were from opposite ends of the River Tees, met in Middlesbrough, and were married for over 55 years. With their passing, this body of water has become a potent personal symbol that encapsulates memories of family, relationships, and the passage of time. Suddenly, places that I had vaguely remembered took on monumental significance. So, I have embarked on this new project. It's a form of therapy, a memorial, and perhaps a source of comfort for anyone else seeking a "home."

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