Growing up in Ululla, a remote aboriginal community in central Western Australia, Helen was surrounded by First Nations Australians. With this upbringing, Helen was exposed to a breadth of art and nature. Although this evidently forged a passion for creativity, the visual arts, and the wild desert landscape, it was only when Helen returned from living abroad in Scotland that she saw her home country with fresh eyes. Inspired by the diverse bushlands around regional Western Australia, Helen embraced the artistic beauty of the flora and fauna and has been painting these subjects ever since.
“My inspiration is 100% from the Western Australian bush. Living in regional WA full time means I get to see the constantly changing desert… I never grow tired of the incredible scenery.”
Helen currently works out of her studio gallery in Mullewa, a small town in the mid-west region of Western Australia known for its abundance of wildflowers during the months of spring. As a busy mum and business owner, she has learnt to work to a flexible schedule, often working on pieces on her kitchen table, her front porch, and at market stalls whilst chatting to visitors. Even as a resident, seeing the change of seasons every year, Helen is amazed at how different the landscape of Mullewa is week to week and year to year.
“Every week holds a new view if you seek them out. What astonishes me even more is how every year has its own unique rhythm.”
It is this vivid nature that Helen expresses in her work. She creates pieces which capture the unique spirit of the time in which they were made, a vignette of the native world around her.
Another major inspiration for Helen’s work comes from her father, Don Miller, a lifelong resident of the Australian outback and avid researcher of native botany. Helen’s father has been by her side throughout her business pursuits, lending a helping hand with hanging pieces, managing finances, and even making coffees on occasion in the gallery.
“He has been my unwavering rock through my journey as an artist. Everyone needs someone like this in their life.”
Helen’s father’s passion towards Western Australia’s native flora and fauna manifests in the meticulously researched descriptions which accompany each of her fine art prints. This heartfelt connection between family, nature, and art is what is at the heart of Helen’s work.
“For me, this is what is so special about living out here in the bush. It is about growing a creative future and our shared legacy as a family.”
All images supplied by artist