Helen Ward

Helen’s work is inspired by the landscapes she experiences around her, from the gritty urban streets of London to the wild and raw beauty of the Cornish landscape where she currently resides.

Drawing, walking and experiencing nature lies at the heart of her practice and reflects a constant engagement with the world around her. She observes, collects and ‘memory banks’ images and atmosphere using photography, sketchbooks and large drawing to capture what she sees and experiences as a means to understand and express what cannot be otherwise be communicated.

Back in the studio the process is investigative, recording the history of making through decisions, errors and discoveries. Images are drawn, collaged, printed the reworked, adding, subtracting and editing. Details are omitted and changed leaving fragments and impressions behind until she is left with something that feels complete.

Helen grew up in South east London and studied a BA (Hons) Fine art at Farnham University, graduating in 1997. She moved to Cornwall in 2009 where she  currently works as a full time artist and tutor, teaching workshops at her Krowji studio and St Ives school of painting.

Amongst others, Helen has exhibited at the Penwith gallery, the St Ives society, Ironbridge fine arts and Woolwich contemporary print fair for the last three years alongside several solo shows. Career highlights so far include collaboration on the Tori Amos video ‘spies’ and being shortlisted for the John Ruskin prize this year.

Helen’s work is held in private collections around the world.