Uncharted Waters an Exhibition by Helen English

She paints ethereal women as seekers — navigators of the natural world — who engage with their surroundings through intuition and curiosity, with a respect and wonder for what they find. The fish and ocean creatures which Helen paints represent the beauty and variety of that world which we do not often see up close.

With a style that shifts between realism, expressionism and abstraction, Helen has a deep passion for colour and creating a mood. Her work consists of layers of water-based mediums and collage which, after the curing process, is glazed with oils to enhance depth

Born in the UK, her early career in post-production opened the door to international opportunities, eventually bringing her to Aotearoa. She had always made art but it took a while to make it a career. After spending years creating intermittently, and gaining a teaching degree, she finally created a studio space…