New Artists (Page 2)

The White Rooms are pleased to announce two new artists on board with us. We are looking forward to exhibiting their works.

Helen

Helen grew up in Oxfordshire – her interest in fine art developed rapidly; drawing and painting with passion from a young age.

Her love of painting and drawing blossomed, cumulating in the completion of a Fine Art Degree in the summer of 2004.

She has exhibited at galleries throughout London where she has sold many of her paintings and received a number of commendations and was elected to full membership of the United Society of Artists (UA) in May 2005.

Helen's work has proved popular with both private and commercial clients resulting in a number of successfully completed commissions.

Gill

How would you describe your work in 8 words?
“Colourful, bumpy works on canvas with shiny bits”

I was born in Kent in 1955, third of four children and the only “artistic” one of two artistic parents. My artistic interest was actively encouraged. As a child I was “always drawing”

After two year foundation at Croydon School of Art I chose to train as a teacher at Kingston where art was my main subject for 4 years. I gained a B.Ed degree in 1977 and began my career as a London teacher. Art took second place for the next 18 years, I became a deputy head and then was head teacher for 8 years.

In 1995 following the birth of my son, I went through a major life change. Wanting to spend more time with my son and facing some challenging health issues, I decided to leave teaching. Thanks to my son, I rediscovered art at this time and it regained prominence in my life once more, and also my health improved.

I joined Skylark in 1998 as an exhibiting artist, and became “manager” in April ’99. The Gallery expanded its activities and in 2001 we opened our second branch in the Oxo Tower, Skylark 2 Gallery. Now Skylark is a thriving community of 30 artists who work together to run the two galleries, take part in external art fairs and exhibitions, and support each other in many, many ways including sharing skills, knowledge and expertise.

My life has been, and continues to be, an amazing journey of discovery, in which I have uncovered and discovered new insights through unexpected and sometimes traumatic experiences. My artwork relates to this journey by exploring textures, layers and patterns in the environment and in life. It takes three forms; photoworks of texture & pattern, embossed prints which recreate and develop those textures, and works on canvas which expand and explore the themes in more depth and scale. Through these forms I express my ideas and feelings about life, love, environment and healing.

I am deeply committed to the search for peace, both internally and externally, and to issues of environmental health and sustainability. I meditate daily and practise T’ai Chi regularly.
Viewers often comment on the sense of peace or conversely of energy and power that they experience through my work.