“If we seek, we have the potential to unlock and express our true, authentic selves” - Helen Dynes

Helen Dynes has had a life-long relationship with art. Creativity has been with her since she was a child. From a very young age knowing that she would be an artist when she grew up.

“Art was always my passion,” she says, “there was never any other consideration.”

Born in Ireland and completing her higher education in England, Helen received a Masters Degree of Arts in 1983, and a further Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She has taught art within the tertiary education space, both in UK and New Zealand, for over 30 years. Including teaching Art as Therapy at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison for almost 5 years.

Helen emigrated to NZ in 2003, and her New Zealand art portfolio alone is a credit to her craft and excellence in her field. Whether it be bespoke commissioned pieces, or full curated exhibitions, Helen is truly an accomplished artist.

She is primarily a people painter and loves painting the human figure. Inspirations have included Art Deco, the Royal NZ Ballet Company, and painting directly from life at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts for Realist Painters, Florence, Italy, exploring the techniques of the Old Masters.

Helen’s painting style is naturalistic and she enjoys expressing the beautiful interplay of light and shadow on the human form, working mainly in oil or acrylic on canvas. Her work is held in private collections throughout NZ and overseas.

As well as a successful career in the fine arts, this Napier-based artist continues her teaching and tutors weekly painting classes at Creative Arts Napier and offers private tuition by arrangement. Over the years, Helen has enjoyed teaching numerous sell-out painting retreats and workshops around Hawke’s Bay.

Helen has been invited to be a tutor and an art selector by several Hawke’s Bay art industry groups. Her main motivation is her love of sharing with other people. ‘I get excited when I learn something new and I’m generous with my knowledge. I have appreciated artists being generous with me… it cascades knowledge, keeps things moving.’

If you are in the room when Helen is tutoring, you will pick up a gem or two of artistic knowledge.

Helen Dynes strongly believes that art is a form of therapy and sees evidence of that in all her art connections with people. This, leading her to launch The Pandora Project, following on from her Art Recovery classes post Cyclone Gabrielle.

“Art allows you to express your own creativity. Often lying dormant, because of work or life commitments. Many people don’t get around to this form of self-help until they are ‘retired’ or suddenly find they have that precious commodity- time, on their hands.”

If you want to reclaim your inner creativity at last, there is no better way to do so, than joining one of Helen’s painting classes, workshops, or private tuition opportunities.

One to one mentoring with Helen can also be arranged for yourself or as a gift to another, via email. Helen welcomes any enquires, please email helen.mary.dynes@gmail.com

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Ireland

LIVES: Hawke’s Bay

EDUCATION:

BA Hons Graphic Design, Birmingham, 1982

Master of Arts, Birmingham, 1983

Post Grad Certificate of Further Education, 1989

AWARDS:

New Zealand Portrait Gallery ‘Adam Portraiture Award’ finalist 2020

People’s Choice Award ‘Feast in red’ Hastings, Hawke’s Bay

FEATURED GALLERIES:

National Portrait gallery, NZ tour. Gilded Leaf. Red Peach Gallery. Creative Arts Napier.