Showcase & Discover Creative Work

My acrylic work is increasingly gaining in exposure.
From childhood, we learn about life by decoding symbols. Symbols turn up in so many ways - words, dress, behaviour. Somehow we are supposed to use the decoding to make sense of the world, using our knowledge, experience and education.
Words are always symbolic of meaning and ubiquitous. I love how they look and the meanings that are imbued in the way they look. And I love words in pictures; how they change the viewer's understanding of the image, how they can suggest a narrative, or a time or a place. I use words in my paintings to do exactly that but of course, they can only act as a suggestion to meaning. Decoding always depends on the decoder.

We are also expected to decode the non-verbal symbols given out by the people around us. As children, we are taught to judge others by the way they look (evil and good characters in stories are almost always signalled visually for example). As adults we align ourselves to other social tribes by the way we dress to symbolise our similarity or difference. Social tribes could constitute generation groups, or economic groups, or cultural groups. Come a cropper and be confused if you miss-read the code though.

I have shown paintings for the past two years at the prestigious 'HOUSE Open' exhibition, curated by Woodrow Kernohan (Photoworks), Simon Martin (Pallant House) and Nicola Coleby (Brighton and Hove Museum and Gallery).

In 2011, I collaborated with Fat Pebble Films to make an animation short, used as an outside projection.
I worked with Draw on 'Enlightenment - the Cabinets of Wonder' project in 2010 which involved designing and painting a bespoke adult sized wheeled cabinet. This gained a 'Drawing Inspiration Award' from the Campaign for Drawing.'
I took part in a live art event at the pop-up restaurant 'Residence' as an artist in residence in 2010. Read Less

My watercolour and collage classic illustrations have appeared in over 30 high quality books for children that have become co-editions in over 15 countries around the world. The website for my book illustrations is www.helencann.co.uk .
I have won the following awards -
2010 Gold Medal, Nautilus Book Awards (US), 'Little Leap Forward'
2009 Fall 2009 Selection, Junior Library Guild (US), 'Little Leap Forward'
2004 Best Children’s Book, UK Christian Book Awards, 'The Lion Bible for Children'
2003 Children’s Book of the Year, CBC,'The Lion Bible for Children'
2003 Best Children’s Book of the Year, Bank Street College (US),'Brigid’s Cloak'
2001 Best Children’s Book of the Year, NAPRA review, 'The Lady of Ten Thousand Names'

I have exhibited my illustrations widely including:
2006 “Stories from the Silk Road”, Chicago Institute of Art, Chicago
2002-2004 “Imagine” (touring exhibition), Blakesley Hall, Birmingham, Holburne Museum, Bath, Guildhall Gallery, Guildford, Manchester Art Gallery
2000 “The Contemporary British Illustrators”, The Illustration Cupboard, Downstairs at the Air Gallery, London

I was commissioned by Manhattan Museum for Children to produce the artwork for their travelling exhibition, 'Gods, Myths and Mortals'. Read Less