Earlier this month we welcomed award-winning designer Helen Rhodes to Collier & Dobson and launched her wonderfully whimsical nature-inspired compositions as limited edition prints. So now is a great time to delve a little deeper into the life of the accomplished artist, and discover her artistic journey and achievements.
In the heart of the thriving village of Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, Helen lives and works from her home with her husband, two children and Bagelbee their Sprocker dog. Her home is a white house - reminiscent of the little white cottages featured in many of her paintings, and which have been trademark elements of Helen's ever since her creative career began in 1992, after completing her degree in Textile Design at Loughborough College of Art and Design.
Her fascination with textile design is clear to see in her simple yet intricately painted pieces, which feature patterned elements - reminiscent of woven fabric - alongside miniature architectural details, characterful wildlife, and oversized flora. The tranquil tone of her work is conceivably owing to her skilful blending of a soft and earthy pastel colour palette, natural subject matter, and gently abstract presentation.
By her own admission, Helen’s work is intended to “make a small difference in people’s lives especially during tough times” and she views creating uplifting and light-hearted work as her way of adding brightness to a world that can be quite overwhelming at times. Her aim is to reflect the intricate tapestry of human emotions with calming colours and imagery that is both approachable and familiar.
Helen gained success from early on in her career, when she began selling her original designs through a variety of art venues to great commercial and critical acclaim. Soon, she secured a deal with a greetings card publisher, a prominent fine art publishing house, and was even commissioned to create several mug designs for Queen’s Bone China.
Over the years, Helen’s unique brand of artistry has earned her a loyal following and several industry awards, including the prestigious ‘Gift of the Year’ title and ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’ from the Fine Art Trade Guild.
Helen’s collectors, too, have many wonderful things to say about her distinctive style, and this quote elegantly sums up the soothing effect of her work: “[Helen's work] captures perfectly how nature makes me feel […] it brings me peace when I look at it, makes me take a deep breath, makes me smile, makes me want to escape into it for a moment”.
Cut to the present day, and Helen has created a rich and varied collection of stunning textile designs and products, gorgeous ceramic accessories, and captivating mixed media paintings from her studio “The Acorns”, where she also holds creative workshops and open days. She creates her inimitable illustrations using mixed media on paper, which includes a mix of household paint, oil paint and gouache. The techniques she honed at art college contribute to the distinctiveness that makes her enchanting work instantly recognisable and highly sought-after.
Head over to our online gallery to browse through her collection of limited edition prints.
