Helen Ward British
Helen Ward's startlingly eye-catching 'paper entomology' artworks are inspired by her collection of rare Victorian hand-marbled papers, which she uses to create incredibly detailed cut paper insects, butterflies and bugs, with some works also incorporating gold and silver leaf. The colourful paper 'specimens' are pinned into place in compositions framed within Victorian specimen trays, paying a contemporary tribute to the golden age of collecting.
Bristol based artist and designer Helen Ward graduated from the University of the West of England in 2001 with a degree in Graphic Design. Helen started her career making pop-up books whilst training as a traditional bookbinder. Whilst working at the bindery, Helen developed a love for the hand marbled papers that were made to be endpapers in traditional binding. She has since crated a collection of these, some of which date back to the late 19th Century.
Alongside her artistic practice, Helen also designs homeware and gift ranges for several major international retailers. She regularly exhibits her Paper Entomology all over the world and her work can be found in several galleries across the UK.
Helen Ward is is represented exclusively in St Ives and Cornwall by the Porthminster Gallery.
Helen Ward biography
Education
2001 BA (Hons) Degree in Graphic Design, University of West of England
Exhibitions
2017 ‘Ten Years On: Showing Off’, Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
2016 Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Foss Fine Art, London
Byard Art, Cambridge
2014 White Space, Totnes
Byard Art, Cambridge
2013 White Space, Totnes
Byard Art, Cambridge
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
The Lyndhurst Gallery, Hampshire
The Cube Gallery, Bristol
2012 The Cube Gallery, Marylebone, London
The Cube Gallery, Bristol
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Covet and Collect, Hampshire
Byard Art, Cambridge
2011 The Cube Gallery, Marylebone, London
The Cube Gallery, Bristol
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
2010 'Christmas Cracker', Byard Art, Cambridge
The Cube Gallery, Bristol
The Cube Gallery, Marylebone, London
Edinburgh Arts Fair, Scotland
Art Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead Heath, London
Affordable Art Fair, New York
Affordable Art Fair, Bristol
Affordable Art Fair, Brussels
ArtHamptons, The Hamptons, New York
'Observer Ethical Awards 2011', Victoria & Albert Museum, London
'Wild at Heart', Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Art Chicago, Chicago
Chelsea Art Fair, London
20|21 International Art Fair, London
Brownston Gallery, Modbury, Devon
2009 Edinburgh Arts Fair, Scotland
Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam
Affordable Art Fair, London
'10x10', Byard Art, Cambridge
2009 The Cube Gallery, Bristol
Affordable Art Fair, New York
'Paperworks 3', Bury Art Museum
Cambridge Art Fair, Cambridge
Affordable Art Fair, Paris
Affordable Art Fair, Bristol
Chelsea Art Fair, London
'Papercuts', Rostra Gallery, Bath
2008 The Cube Gallery, Bristol
Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam
Affordable Art Fair, London
Brownston Gallery, Modbury, Devon
'Nature's Way', The Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol
'3', Square, Bristol
Fireworks Gallery, Bristol
Press
2017 Cornwall Today, March issue (‘Ten Years On: Showing Off’,
Porthminster Gallery, St Ives
2016 Cornwall Life, December issue
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HELEN WARD: PAPER ENTOMOLOGY
18 May - 24 Aug 2019This new collection of startlingly eye-catching 'paper entomology' artworks by Bristol-based artist Helen Ward is inspired by her collection of rare Victorian hand-marbled papers, which she uses to create incredibly...Read more -
ST IVES SUMMER SHOW: 12
18 May - 24 Aug 2019Porthminster Gallery in St Ives hosts its summer exhibition of coastal landscape and sea inspired paintings and ceramics by gallery artists Nick Bodimeade, Jenny Hirst, Freya Horsley, Joanne Last, Martyn Perryman, Sarah Perry, Geoffrey Swindell and Jane Muende.Read more -
TEN YEARS ON: SHOWING OFF
25 Mar - 6 May 2017To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Porthminster Gallery in St Ives, ‘Ten Years On: Showing Off’ is a unique exhibition showcasing eight artists new to the gallery, alongside gallery...Read more -
Winter Showcase
11 Feb - 18 Mar 2017Winter is still here in St Ives and as thoughts turn again to cosy nights-in, our lovingly crafted wonderful winter showcase of beautiful luxury handmade works of art will help...Read more