About the host

Growing up in South Africa

Growing up in South Africa with a passion for all things creative, Helene graduated from college and began teaching art privately. Later she gained a BSc majoring in mathematics and geography and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and began teaching maths, geography, computer science and art and culture at secondary school.

Over the years, Helene was accepted into numerous exhibitions in South Africa and has won several prizes. In 1991 she was awarded the ‘Cream of the Crop’ at the 41st Exhibition of the Water Colour Society of South Africa and another to commemorate the FIFA World Cup. Her work has also been featured in the Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards Top 100 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, where only 100 works are selected each year. In total seven works over the three years.

A passion for all things art

Her work has also gone as far as Australia having exhibited in Rotary exhibitions in Melbourne. In 2016 Helene received 2nd place in the Rotary Portrait Competition held during the Rotary Arts Festival in Johannesburg. In the next year she was awarded the People’s Choice Award for her portrait entry. In 2017 and 2018 she was chosen as Mentor to the Emerging and Previously Disadvantaged Artists at the festival. This entailed selecting artists and guiding them through the exhibition. She also assisted with everything from resume preparation to framing and hanging of works. On opening nights she accompanied the artists to ensure they were engaging with the audience. Working with around ten artists each year, it was a proud achievement for Helene and somewhat of a passion.

Fulfilling the dream in Spain

Before moving to Spain in 2019, Helene was an active member of art groups such as the Figures and Form Life Drawing Club. She was involved for many years in the Paint and Palette Group being chairperson in 2013 and 2014 where she was responsible for managing exhibitions that included the work of around 40 artists.

On arriving in Spain just prior to Covid, Helene’s first art submission into the 2020 Granada Women’s Day Exhibition was abruptly cut short with the first ‘lock down’ on opening night. During this time of Covid, whilst she won first prize in the We love Marbella online art competition, Helene devoted her time to establishing Casa Arte de Sorvilan and realising her dream of creating an art escape for creative explorers to ‘paint and stay’.