Helen Clarke
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Helen Clarke found art during a five-year period of chaos while selling the family farm, where creativity became a form of therapy. She draws inspiration from nature and currently specializes in pastel paintings of endangered British wildlife. Her style balances her desire for loose, free creativity with a persistent tendency for intricate detail, especially in facial features. A significant challenge was overcoming imposter syndrome, viewing art as just a hobby, until recent sales and professional milestones solidified her practice.
Artist Interview
Q: Can you share how your artistic journey began? What inspired you to start creating, and how has that initial spark evolved over time?
A: I’ve always been creative, having spent years as a primary school teacher, but I never had the chance to focus on art for long. This changed when my children started to study Art, which led us to create an art space at home. It quickly became clear that I was using it far more than they were.
Then, 14 years ago, after losing my father, I left teaching and started to manage our family farm. This shift allowed me to immerse myself in nature and embrace a more outdoor lifestyle.
In 2017, we decided to sell the farm—a process that took five years and was the scariest roller coaster ride of my life. During that time, art became my therapy, a way to escape the chaos around me. I’d spend hours unconsciously processing daily events while creating and experimenting with various styles and mediums to find my own voice. Now, happily retired, I draw inspiration from nature, specializing in pastel paintings of the British wildlife.
Q: What have been some of the most significant moments or challenges in your journey as an artist?