Helena Gorey – Understory

One of her earliest memories is picking blackcurrants in this field planted by her father. The experience of growing up and living in this place and its surrounding nature has influenced much of her work. Hers is not a desire to represent but to distill the essence of this place.

Her approach is intuitive and her paintings are developed slowly over time.

Her desire is to make works that have a sense of depth but may appear effortless. Paintings are sometimes bisected by a subtle horizontal line suggesting a possible land or seascape and conjure the atmosphere and wonder of nature through a veil of – light, mist, fog, and rain.

When a sense of completeness is not achieved at the first touch a process of layering from light to dark and dark to light is developed in order to arrive home.

With Understory she continues this engagement with nature and focuses on the beauty in humble plants of the hedgerows using titles such as Lady’s Bedstraw, Leaf, Sloe Berry, and Spinney.

By concentrating on the richness of color and texture in nature she attempts to create an immersive sense of landscape without trying to represent it.