Helen Clarke

Painting has been my passion for many years and my aim is to create images which will lift the spirit and enhance life.

Natural subjects and still life are my forte and I especially love flowers, trying to capture the essence of their beauty in a loose and sometimes semi-abstract style, introducing acrylic and watercolour inks and experimenting with collage and tissue. Using a variety of papers complements flower studies most effectively, bringing elements of texture and vitality into my work. Also, one of my special interests is in designing cards in  a variety of styles, using watercolour, inks,watercolour  pencils and collage, sometimes incorporating lace and beads on papers and tissue.

Several of my designs have been used by Phoenix Trading Cards and Artists Cards and my current retail outlets are Cambridge Contemporary Art, Saffron Walden Gallery,Cambridge Botanic Gardens and Burwash Manor Shops in Barton, as well as many private clients.

I have participated  in Cambridge Open Studios since 2001 and have exhibited in Oundle and Sudbury as well as  group exhibitions through membership of Cambridge Drawing Society, Cambridge and District Art Circle and The Society of East Anglian Watercolurists.

Since 2008, I have been teaching watercolour both in my Summer House Studio and at various art groups in the Cambridge area. For the past two years I have offered introductory workshops for beginners and offer one to one tuition up to a maximum of four students. Follow up classes are also available for those wishing to explore watercolour further.