About

Helen Thomas is a Yorkshire based visual artist, working predominantly with painting and drawing. Her work explores responses to plants in the environment. Helen’s practice includes field and studio work, alongside educational and collaborative projects.

In spring 2024 Helen had a solo exhibition at Mura Ma, Stockport

In 2021 Helen’s project ‘Dandelions and Double Yellows’ – inspired by the often overlooked, and sometimes contentious, self seeded plants in our everyday surroundings – was supported by Arts Council England and Wakefield Council. The project culminated in a solo exhibition of sixteen site responsive works at Wakefield Cathedral and a digital showcase of pictures of pavement plants contributed by over 60 people ‘Dandelions and Double Yellows – Your Gallery’.

Group exhibitions include: Entwined: Plants in Contemporary Painting at Huddersfield Art Gallery in 2022 and tour to 20-21 Visual Arts, Scunthorpe in 2023; Rogue Women 2, Manchester, 2023; This Must be the Place, Wakefield, 2022; Xylem and Phloem, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, 2021, and Jerwood Drawing Prize, 2016.

Helen has devised and delivered workshops for a range of organisations and groups including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and Heritage Action Zone Wakefield.

The Hepworth Wakefield commissioned Helen to work with a group of young people to co-create visuals for ’What does Wakefield Sound Like?’ with musicians Duncan Chapman and Supriya Nagarajan from Manasimitra.

Helen has a studio at The Art House in Wakefield. She is a member of the Prosaic curatorial group.
Helen completed a B.A in Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art and a year of postgraduate study with Turps Art School.

If you would like to discuss collaborative projects, exhibitions or enquire about any of the paintings please get in touch via the form below.

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