Helen Read

In 2019, after leaving my role in advertising, I returned fully to painting and began taking courses to rekindle and strengthen my practice. My work now focuses on large-scale landscapes and seascapes in acrylic, where I explore mood, movement, and colour through expressive brushwork and layered texture.

For me, painting is both a form of meditation and a means of storytelling capturing atmosphere rather than detail, and inviting the viewer to experience a sense of calm, space, and emotional connection.

I studied Art Foundation at Southampton College of Art, where I was inspired by passionate and encouraging tutors and initially developed a strong interest in textiles. Before progressing to degree level, I chose to take a year out, and my artistic path shifted as I moved into a career in advertising.