GALLERY

HELEN HANSON

Helen spent the first part of her career teaching languages before she became a professional artist. While still teaching Helen developed an enduring interest in etching. Northern landscapes such as the Lake District and the Pennines provided her initial inspiration and focus for her ideas. A fascination with the detail and form of plant life became interwoven with the moods of the landscape.

Helens work explores different plant habitats often in a series of closely related etchings. Textures, colours and moods are developed and resonate from one plant to the next. Water is a recurrent theme, from the early Cumbrian landscapes to the Kent seascapes and Norfolk fenlands. In recent years her chief aspiration has been the rich and varied ecology of the Scottish Highlands.

Helens etchings begin in the field with walks, sketches and photographs. In the studio she works with acid resin to transform landscape into image. Her works are made on copper plates using a range of textures and processes. Each plate is inked individually in several colours and printed on hand-made paper in a limited edition of 150 or 200.