"I have a passion for people & their cultures, folkways and their individual mannerisms. From struggling, old people to lithe young bodies, each face and figure tells a story. Observing them, I capture their stories with my pencil or paintbrush. Sometimes I go on my own journey, where the abstract strokes convey my mood and tell my story of the moment."

Helena was born in South Africa and matriculated from Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet & Music. In her final year at art school she was commissioned to illustrate a children's book. She went on to work as an artist for a large company in their display department designing posters and building props for window displays.

After marriage and the birth of her son, she started her own below-the-line advertising and promotions company. Although this enabled her to be creative, there was no time for painting. In 1993 she moved to Cape Town with her new husband and extended family and managed to find time to pursue her passion for drawing and painting. At the same time she worked for a sportswear manufacturing company where she designed sportswear, from tracksuits to cycling wear. She designed all the artwork, branding and logos for printing onto corporate cycling wear and all other branding in different print media. She moved to Dubai in 2000 and has exhibited at galleries such as Picasso Gallery, Hunar Gallery and various DIAC Art Exhibitions. In 2002 she was appointed to the board of the Dubai International Art Centre where she also taught drawing and acrylic painting classes.

Helena has recently relocated to Raleigh, NC, but still maintains a home in Dubai which she visits regularly with her husband.