Helen Laishley

Figurative painter Helen Laishley employs bold colors and skewed perspectives in order to depict her emotional narratives more vividly. Naming the pre-Raphaelite era as a major influence, Laishley implements the period’s characteristic use of symbolism in order to develop the stories in her paintings. In capturing the essence of her subjects, the artist creates holistic portraits. Often cropping her images tightly, she forces viewers’ attention towards the nuances of her subjects’ features and surroundings. Working with oils, Laishley further intensifies her work through the use of vibrant colors. Citing her travels through India and Colombia as a source of inspiration, the artist has adapted those regions’ aesthetics to represent her vision more authentically. She explains that “my work can feel as though someone has turned the contrast up and zoomed in too far. I think that is where the truth of my work lies; in the real intensity of life, for better or worse.”

Helen Laishley lives and works in Birmingham and London.