Hello!

Let me introduce myself...My name is Helena (Hele) and I am a British contemporary painter living in London. I've had a paintbrush in hand for most of my life (father is an artist), and in 2014 I graduated with First Class Honours from a Graphic Design degree at the University of the Arts London. It was here I discovered a love (verging on obsession) for the Constructivist movements of the 1920s including, Bauhaus and Suprematism, which has heavily influenced my work. (But if you're not an uber geek like me, the work can, and should be enjoyed at face value for what it is; dynamic, impactful paintings that lift a room - I hope!).

Much to my tutor's dismay I barely touched a computer during my degree, instead favouring manual techniques like letterpress, collage and composition based painting. This was because I loved the imperfections that came with doing things by hand. Tiny marks and smudges just added to the tactile quality and one-offness of the pieces, making them impossible to reproduce and so much more interesting.

I mostly use oil and acrylic paint, texturising it with anything from ash, to marble dust, to sand. My work aims to create a balanced, tranquil and grounding environment that interplays with the kinetic energy of the surface of the canvas. I do this through composition, texture and/or use of colour.