Helen creates both figurative and functional art. Originally from Sydney, she began her ceramic art journey in the early 80’s at a local community hall in suburban Newcastle / Lake Macquarie NSW. Throughout the years of variously bringing up children, studying, working and running a business, she continued drawing and painting, and kept returning to clay as her mainstay of self-expression. Her ongoing general interest in visual arts led her to sporadically participate in assorted pottery and painting groups, short courses, and TAFE and University studies.

 

Helen mostly works from her small garage studio at Nelson Bay. She has won several local sculpture awards for her works in clay. She is further developing her interest in drawing and painting, and increasingly expressing her creativity through mixed media work.

 

 

 

ART PRIZES

2019                             Winner - Sculpture made from Recyclables       Newcastle Ag. H. & I. Assoc. Show

2019                             Highly Commended - Toys Dolls Clowns             Newcastle Ag. H. & I. Assoc. Show

2014                             Winner of Sculpture Section                                     Tilligerry Festival Art & Craft Show

2013                             Winner of Indoor Sculpture Section                      Sculpture at the Bay, Nelson Bay

2009                             Winner of Sculpture section                                     Port Stephens Art Prize

2006                             Highly Commended in Sculpture section            Tea Gardens Grange Art Awards

2004                             Winner of Sculpture section                                     Port Stephens Art Prize

 

EXHIBITIONS

12 -21 Feb 2021       Life's Journey at Back to Back Galleries                Cooks Hill, NSW

March 2019               Tides of March at Back to Back Galleries              Cooks Hill, NSW

July 2018                    Flow at Back to Back Galleries                                  Cooks Hill, NSW

March 2017               Interior Motifs at Back to Back Galleries              Cooks Hill, NSW

February 2017         Raymond Terrace Library Art Space                       Raymond Terrace, NSW

 

MEMBER OF EXHIBITING GROUPS

2016 to current       Newcastle Studio Potters                                          Cooks Hill, Newcastle, NSW

2016                             Smart Arts Pop-up Shop at the Marina                 Nelson Bay, NSW

2015 to 2016             Swan Bay Woodworks & Pottery Gallery             Swan Bay, NSW

2012 to 2013             Artefacts Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre            Hobart, TAS

2008 to 2014             Huon Art Exhibitions Group Gallery                       Cygnet, TAS

1998 to 2001             Boatmans’ Cottage                                                        South West Rocks, NSW

1998 to 2000             Mud Shack                                                                        Kempsey, NSW

 

EDUCATION

2019 to current       Enrolled Advanced Dip. Visual Arts, majoring in -Sculpting & Painting, Ncle TAFE

1994                             Enrolled Bachelor Visual Arts, subjects - Life Drawing & Sculpting, Univ. of Ncle

1993                             Graduated Diploma in Education, The University of Newcastle

1990                             Graduated Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), The University of Newcastle

Also attended various courses in illustration, clay portrait sculpting, and a TAFE class in ceramics