HELEN MAHOOD
I grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland and from an early age I wanted to be an artist. During my final year at school my artwork was entered for an all Schools competition. My school won the most awards(5), but when they realised that they were all done by the same artist they took back the five small silver cups and replaced them with a special trophy.
On the advice of my teachers I pursued a "proper" career and trained as an art teacher. My career in teaching was brief and I soon took the opportunity to become a professional artist by training and qualifying as Medical Illustrator. Working in hospitals I did get to go to theatre, observe operations and then illustrate them to clarify the surgical procedures for books and teaching purposes. It was interesting but precise work.
A move to London prompted a side step into the enjoyable fast-paced world of commercial art. I became the main illustrator, and cartoonist working among graphic artists for a large marketing/AV company. Eventually I became freelance full time and increasingly moved into book illustrations.
I temporally moved back to live in Northern Ireland for five years where I saw with fresh eyes the beauty of the Irish landscape and returned to my first love of painting.
I have now settled in Cornwall and discovered that the winters are nearly as cold, grey and wet as Ireland, but the sea and coast is wild and beautiful and the summers warmer. I am so grateful for all my varied experiences as a professional artist, but now I am following my childhood dream to paint and hope to increasingly reflect the wildness, drama and beauty of what I see around me.
On the advice of my teachers I pursued a "proper" career and trained as an art teacher. My career in teaching was brief and I soon took the opportunity to become a professional artist by training and qualifying as Medical Illustrator. Working in hospitals I did get to go to theatre, observe operations and then illustrate them to clarify the surgical procedures for books and teaching purposes. It was interesting but precise work.
A move to London prompted a side step into the enjoyable fast-paced world of commercial art. I became the main illustrator, and cartoonist working among graphic artists for a large marketing/AV company. Eventually I became freelance full time and increasingly moved into book illustrations.
I temporally moved back to live in Northern Ireland for five years where I saw with fresh eyes the beauty of the Irish landscape and returned to my first love of painting.
I have now settled in Cornwall and discovered that the winters are nearly as cold, grey and wet as Ireland, but the sea and coast is wild and beautiful and the summers warmer. I am so grateful for all my varied experiences as a professional artist, but now I am following my childhood dream to paint and hope to increasingly reflect the wildness, drama and beauty of what I see around me.
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