Helen Sharp - Love's Rebellious Joy


Helen Sharp is an artist living and working in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Helen grew up on the tiny Hebridean island of Vatersay in Scotland and left the islands to take up a place in Edinburgh College of Art where she gained a First Class honours in Sculpture and received the Andrew Grant Bequest Scholarship for Highest Academic Achievement. Helen went on to gain a Masters with Distinction in Time Based Art from Dartington College of Arts gaining the highest degree result in her year.

After some time teaching and also exhibiting internationally many times, Helen went on to be director of Catalyst Arts Gallery in Belfast and then to complete a PhD in Art from the University of Ulster. Alongside and equally as important to her academic career, Helen has continued her art practice and recently had a major solo show called the `Hero and Now’, exhibiting film,  photography, print and installation. Helen was one of five shortlisted artists for the Cultural Olympiad in 2009 and also published a book in collaboration with artist Aisling O’ Beirn entitled ‘or So We’ve heard’. This book was the culmination of 2 years work within communities exploring and gathering vernacular information such as recipes, remedies, urban myths and people and places of the various communities visited.

Helen’s community arts work has included sculpture collaborations with artist Duncan Ross, community gardens, environmental sculpture and an upcoming Art on the Wall Project based in the Kilwilkie Estate in Lurgan. Helen has also recently completed a commission from Kerrygold Butter to design and install a bespoke artwork and garden in MileEnd, London.  Helen is currently Chairperson of the Northern Irish branch of  ‘Paintings in Hospitals’, a UK charity engaged in providing high quality art works for Healthcare sites.

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