Helen was born, raised and schooled in the Monto region of Central Queensland, Australia. She has strong ties locally and is passionate about bringing art and cultural experiences into rural and regional communities.

 “I am deeply connected to the beautiful surrounds that wrap around Monto and the differentiation in colour that each season brings.” 

Helen feels privileged to live, work and explore Gureng Gureng land. It is here where she fulfills another of her life’s passions, owning and operating a small commercial beef business and Droughtmaster Stud - Spur H Droughtmasters, with her husband and two children.

After a 20 year hiatus from the easel, (wherein she had previously majored in large-scale monochromatic
life-drawing at university) Helen picked up a brush at the age of 40 and began to teach herself to paint. It is through this media, where she has now found comfort and joy in colour.

  • As acrylic on canvas is a relatively new medium for Helen; she continues to explore the material. 

    “My work currently consists of large, colourful, visually expressive paintings. I use a combination of brush sizes to create vivid, gestural marks within the media. My visual language is informed and defined by the natural materials and landscape around me. However, my goal is less about replicating the immediate environment and more about communicating the emotion or sense of place each subject provides.”

  • Helen has been involved in Arts and Education for over 20 years. She holds two degrees; a Bachelor of Visual Art, majoring in Fine Art and a Bachelor of Learning Management. Both have allowed her the opportunity to fulfill professional roles as a secondary education Art teacher throughout Central Queensland and more recently, supply teacher and independent artist.