Professional Artist Teacher with 15 years experience in Art tuition at all levels. Based in Oxford and Abingdon.

Find out more about Helen

• When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

  I think I have always been an artist, but it took me a long time to really believe in myself. I started producing work from when I was really little, which we all do, we play and we explore. I have always had a great interesting in tactile elements, texture & how light changes things, & I would always be creating things with whatever I could lay my hands on. I would often just spend hours staring at objects, fascinated by the form, the colours & the beauty, especially from nature. Teachers would comment on how I would often daydream or be in my own head in class and I would spend a lot of time doodling, but it was a way of processing ideas, either my own or others, which is something very often misunderstood by non-artists. Art has always been a very much a part of me as it strongly represents who I am as a person. My art-practice has helped me develop as a person intellectually, and in terms of my teaching-practice, & also in relation to my well-being.
  Professionally I have been practicing for about ten years, I regularly exhibit work during Artweeks, an annual art event in Oxford, as well as several other venues in & around the Oxford area, and I have also exhibited at Modern Art Oxford.

• Which artists or works affect you the most?

  Here, the list is endless… My first loves were Degas & Michelangelo, but I have also had a strong attachment to Matisse from early on. I love Gerhart Richter, Jenny Saville, Van Gogh, Marina Abramovich, Durer, Gauguin, Caravaggio, Anselm Kiefer, De Vinci, Ansel Adams, Ai Weiwei, Louise Bourgeois, Rodin; that’s just to begin with. More recently, Casper David Frederique, Raphael, & back to Michelangelo. I think I find it difficult to name a favourite piece of work as there are elements in each of the artists’ works that really fascinate me. Degas will always send shivers down my spine, Michelangelo will always captivate me, & I will be continually inspired by them all.

• What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?

  I think first and foremost you need to be moved by art, as an inspiration to create but more importantly as something which elevates you. You also need to be passionate & resilient, as any art form requires a lot of motivation & practice. It is not something that comes automatically, even Michelangelo had to work hard at it… & I would strongly suggest perseverance, as unfortunately, Art is not seen as something which is valued in certain societies & artist often have to justify their practice. But do not let that deter you, if you love art then make it.

• What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

  I think the most valuable advice I could give is to keep practicing, whether it is your art as a whole or if it is practicing what you love doing the most. I still practice my drawing & I am always learning, it never stops.

• How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel

  Art is my passion. I think the only way I can describe it is that is the truth in me. It is something that I will always love and will continue to be inspired by and awe struck with. It is something that elevates me, and to describe how it makes me feel, I think would be somewhat futile as Art for me, defies language as we know it, as it is ineffable and one which engages in tacit dwellings, such as intuition, flow and other forms of internal references.

• What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  There are lots of creative endeavours that I can say that I am proud of, but most of all I am proud to call myself an artist. It took a long time to believe in myself as an artist, I used to bow my head in shame because I felt that I needed to justify being an artist, but I now know that is it a part of who I am and it would be denying a large part of my development if I were to not engage in my practice. I am most proud of my educational pursuits, studying Art up to Masters’ level has substantiated my self-belief as an artist-teacher. I am also proud of my artwork, past and present, I enjoy looking though past sketchbook and portfolios to see how I used to engage with my practice and see how I have progressed and changed over the years, it is a document of my life.

• Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

  I am always super proud of my students, no matter what rate they progress. It is a very personal thing and we all reach our ‘Eureka’ moments at different times. I think, like previously mentioned, if the passion is there so will be the drive to push you through, to keep trying and working hard to achieve to the best that you can. My job is to remind my students of just that, to feed that passion and to watch and help it grow.

• Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

  I think I like engaging with artist of all ages and helping them to developing their passion. I still very much learning myself and I think being a tutor requires constant development and education. It never stands still and should never do so. As they say, the more you learn the less you feel you know, it is an endless pursuit, which is just fabulous!