VISUALLY SPEAKING – a Helen Cottle exhibition
Sunday 16 May to Saturday 5 June 2010

Helen Cottle was born in bayside Williamstown Victoria in 1962. She is a self-educated artist who paints in all mediums in either a realist or impressionist style. What began as a part-time hobby has evolved into a passion to express herself creatively in whatever medium she chooses.

Helen has been inspired by various artists past and present, such as Arthur Streeton, John Singer-Sargent and Harold Herbert. Initially she experimented widely, but then concentrated on oil painting for 5 years, before changing focus to specialise in watercolour for the next 20 years.

Helen has recently moved into acrylic and mixed media. She believes that by studying the effects of light on a subject and observing life’s intriguing details, everyday views can be transformed into dynamic and interesting works of art.

Helen is currently working as a professional artist and is a popular teacher in the Macedon Ranges north-west of Melbourne. Helen currently works from her own studio in Gisborne, where she runs classes and workshops teaching drawing and painting in watercolour, acrylic and mixed media.

From time to time Helen also runs workshops throughout Victoria and interstate. She has also tutored for the National Gallery of Victoria conducting watercolour workshops to coincide with the exhibitions Seeing the Centre: The art of Albert Namatjira 1902-1959 in 2003, and Modern Britain 1900-1960: Masterworks from Australian and New Zealand collections in 2008. Helen currently tutors at the Mitchell School of Art, Bathurst.

Helen is a member of AGRA (Australian Guild of Realist Artists), Macedon Ranges Art Group, and the Woodend Art Group. She has held several solo and joint exhibitions that have been highly successful.