Following a long career as a Primary and Special Schools teacher Helen began painting professionally in 1992. She is largely self-taught and has become known for her works in pastel and only recently returned to her first medium of oils. She finds inspiration for her work in many subjects but is always most inspired by the quality of light and its ability to moderate the atmosphere of a painting. However also very evident in much of Helen’s work is her passion for painting and drawing the human form and it is this passion which has lead to her current and very intense interest in portraiture, a genre of work to which she attributes the highest integrity. During her painting career Helen has been the recipient of over 60 first prizes and has been a four times finalist in Victorian “Artist Of The Year”, Australian Guild of Realist Artists “Aspects Of Excellence”every year since 2000 , The A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship in 2001 and The Shirley Hannan Portrait Award in 2005. She has held 12 solo exhibitions and is represented by 3 commercial galleries in Victoria and S.A. Her paintings in pastel and oils currently sell regularly for prices from $500 to $4500.