About My Work
My art inspiration is the natural world but my work has has science at its core. I’m fascinated with the microcosm of the body’s cells to the macro view of land and seascapes even to the heavens. Swimming regularly in the river gives me an opportunity to sneak up on wildlife!
Rarely using a paintbrush, I play with materials loving the experience as much as the outcome. Abstract paintings are painted with controlled chaos! Acrylic inks and paint plus inclusions like steel filings are shaped and moved by scientific processes that include diffusion, gravity, chemical incompatibilities, density and magnetism letting chaos to take over and occasionally some drawing!
If you are interested in my work, please use the contact form to get in touch.
Artistic BioGraphy
2023 Cambridge Open Studios Studio 242 included in Fen Edge Art Trail
2021 Cambridge Open Studios artist 214
2019 Cambridge Open Studios artist 117
2011 Niche Contemporary Artspace pop up gallery supported by Cambridge School of Art and Changing Spaces
2011 Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge - Degree show
2011 BA Fine Art Hons from The Cambridge School of Art.
2010 Interim Show Ruskin Gallery
2009 “Venus Cotidiana” Series of resin statuettes. Music department Anglia Ruskin University
2009 Cambridge School of Art exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University of a series of small sculptural works
2009 “The Cosmos of the Wide Open” Site Specific exhibition in the grounds of the Institute of Astronomy University of Cambridge with thanks for the assistance of David Wake
2008 Exhibition at Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge of ‘Arts’
2007 “Fairy Doors” Site Specific Sculpture Exhibition at Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon
2007 “We are all made of stars” Foundation Degree Show at Cambridge Regional College
“I absolutely loved my art lessons and wanted to take it to A Level. To get a place on the course required the support of the Head of Art. She told me that she would not countenance me doing A level art. If I did, she promised to refer me to an educational psychologist and retire! Unbeknown to me, my art teacher had been so worried by my surrealist phase they contacted my parents. With such ringing encouragement and support, unsurprisingly, I chose science!
Nobody tells you how visual science is! It’s led me to fascinating places with a degree in Zoology (three years drawing critters!) and further study in Immunology-the body’s defences. For many years art was “unfinished business” restricted to a few sketches and daubs on holiday.
Thanks to a wise friend, a career break turned into a joyous education in art through A-level, followed by Foundation then a degree in Fine Art. Today, I work as a scientist and paint. It’s thrilling when people like my art enough to want to take it home.
Do you have to choose between Art or Science? No! You can do both!”
Inspiring Artists
Going to exhibitions and meeting artists is a great pleasure. Here are a few artists that have influenced me over the years (some are even living!)
John Constable- the absolute master of turbulent seas and skies
Jane Lewis -Love the symbolism in her paintings and still life
Peter Doig- Landscapes with stories on a monumental scale
Egon Schiele- Drawings that are completely unafraid (and parental advisory!)
Chris Ofili- who comes from Manchester and even uses glitter in his paint. Particularly like “The Upper Room” installation of paintings
Inspiring teachers
Inspiring Materials
Golden Fluid Acrylics and acrylic media
Liquitex acrylic media and varnish
Daler Rowney FW and Magic Color acrylic inks
The Small Print
All works on this site are Copyright Helen Foster (all rights reserved). Please use the contact page if you would like to enquire about a specific work or image.