The Gallery

HELEN CLARK

Animal Artist

A local lass, I was born and bred in the Peak District and continue to live in my beloved Derbyshire with my husband, son and a number of faithful pets often tripping me up at home in Chesterfield.

I guess my love of wildlife was nurtured from an early age, often hiding earthworms and butterflies in my bedroom in Dronfield (on the borders of the Peak District) as a child. My fascination for the Natural World often disrupted my school work as the various creepy crawlies I hid in a matchbox were let out to play during lessons. A teacher once remarked "If Helen paid less attention to her animal managerie and paid more attention to her maths, she could go a long way" I still can't add up without a calculator but maybe I had skills in other places?

My intention to go to art college in Derby, after my a-levels, ended abruptly when I met a new boyfriend. All thoughts of extra study went out of the window when I discovered the taste for beer and going to restaurants with said new boyfriend. I needed to earn a living to carry on this new extremely sofisticated lifestyle so I got myself a job at the local garden centre in Dronfield. I trained and gained qualifications as a professional florist and stayed there for 10 years. Oh yes and most important, I married the boyfriend so it was all worth it!

I continued to paint and draw in my spare time and always had the urge to want to do something with my gift. I was constantly getting told what a shame it was I had never gone to art college, and what a waste of talent - not helpful when you're just setting out your adult life with the man you love and you just want to be togevva.

We had our son in 1998 and whilst I was on maternity leave I met the artist at the Gallery at Caudwell's Mill at Rowsley in the Peak District. He offered me a part time job and I took the plunge, with a big push from my hubby and kissed goodbye to the garden centre. I worked at Caudwell's Mill for about 10 months altogether, slowly building up a portfolio of work and selling steadily, then selling extremely well, then selling out, then selling more than the other artist. Oops - my time was numbered.

As luck would have it, the resident artist fancied moving on. He left and I got the place to myself. I'm still here now, so happy to be getting paid for a hobby I love and working in such beautiful surroundings with such lovely craftspeople. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else in the world"

Watch Helen at work in her studio and gallery at Caudwell's Mill, Rowsley, most days or spot her in the distance with her easel- she doesn't have to go far for inspiration. Most of her subjects, whether it be the rugged landscape or it's furry and feathered inhabitants, have been painted from life within a ten mile radius of The Gallery at Caudwell's Mill. Now she has the privilege to be painting work from a very talented photographer called Villager Jim.

Visit the Gallery which is open daily, 10 - 4pm Weekdays , 10 - 5pm Weekends for a unique painting, a ltd ed canvas print or choose from the stunning new range of wildlife and Peak District photographs by Villager Jim. A beautiful array of greetings cards are also available depicting the work of both talented folk. The true essence of the Peak District in a tiny collectable form.

Why not comission a pet portrait from your favourite photograph? Helen is a leading feline artist and her cat paintings hang in collections all over the world. Her dog and horse portraiture have gained her an enviable reputation as one of the county's leading animal portraitists.

Call anytime to discuss your requirements 01629 732638 or use the Contacts Page. Helen works in gouache/watercolour/acylic on canvas. If you're not happy with the finished painting, don't worry, anything can be altered until you're 100% satisfied. Helen is proud to boast she hasn't had a dissatisfied customer in nearly thirteen years!