Peaceful Summer Garden Painting

I'm Helen. I was born in Harlow in the UK and raised in Hertfordshire until 11, when I moved to Exeter then Barnstaple in Devon. I now live in the beautiful county of Hampshire with my husband and daughter. I come from artistic parents; my father Roger Withington was the former banknote designer at the Bank of England. You may be familiar with 'Series 'E' which includes banknotes which feature Charles Dickens, George Stevenson, Michael Faraday, Sir John Houblon, and Edward Elgar. You can see his work on display at the Bank of England Museum just off Threadneedle Street in London. My work is often inspired by people, books, and photos I take which I use as reference for my art and often upload them onto Shutterstock. I enjoy focussing on themes like London, animals, people and night-time - which I think is the most interesting setting for my paintings. Other major themes: Nighttime, London buildings, houses, people, nature, summer, travel, fiction, historical buildings – e.g. Victorian and Tudor, mysterious buildings, colourful, bold contrasts, pencil tone, animals, detail, convincing drawing, realism, out of the ordinary. Process: My process begins with an idea. It could be the shape of something, the colour or the contrast that inspires me to want to draw it. I might do a super quick sketch of it first to get the layout and colours right. Usually, I can’t wait to get stuck into the final piece while the inspiration’s fresh! I gather any reference which I need so I can get the details right. I like accuracy – it makes the artwork more convincing. I stick my reference to my drawing board so I can see it easily. Sometimes I draw out a grid if I want to scale up or down and position things accurately. Some things, like faces, are easier to draw freehand though I find, so I can feel my way to getting the likeness right. Favourite experience as an artist: I love it when my artwork sparks discussions and memories, and makes people excited. I remember art teachers in school getting quite excited about how my work made them feel. I love that. The one piece of art I’d love to keep: Alan Lee’s book illustrations always captivate me as they’re imaginative and relatable. The Mirrorstone has always been a favourite. It’s shrouded in watery mystery, set at night, with full-moons, wispy-haired characters, and crumbling towers, beautifully drawn and imagined.