Artists Statement
I paint portraits of people with powerful stories to share. My aim is to capture not just what someone looks like but who they are and what they carry with them.
Our lives are a rich tapestry woven with sweet and sour; I try to reflect that in every portrait. I'm drawn to honest moments—the quiet strength, the joy, the pain—and I want those qualities to come through in my work.
Hands-on making is essential to my process. I'm interested in surfaces' ability to reflect emotion. They might look fragile but are resilient. I often scrub back parts of my drawings or paintings to reveal what's underneath, letting earlier marks appear. This excavating reveals history just as the sitter's story unfolds in layers.
I encourage my sitters to bring along meaningful objects to include in the portraits. These elements enhance the context, helping to express the narrative in a deeper, more revealing and sometimes surprising direction.
Ultimately, I want viewers to recognise themselves—or someone they know—in the work and feel a connection beyond the canvas.
Biography
Helen is from Northeast England. She attended art college in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, earning a BA and an MA in Fine Art. She taught at Cleveland College of Art for ten years and later worked as an interior designer before returning to full-time painting two years ago. Her focus is on portraits and personal narratives centred around childhood and loss.
In 2024, her work was selected for open calls with SWA, RBSA, & Women in Art and was longlisted for the Jacksons Art Prize.
2030 is the bicentenary of Middlesbrough, a place built on inward migration. Last year, Middlesbrough was one of many places impacted by riots, highlighting the need to tell the story of people and place.
In 2025, Helen will create a series of large portraits that capture the vibrant diversity of the Middlesbrough communities. This project will involve collaboration with the portrait subjects and an audio artist.
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