Helen Painter

Helen Painter was born in Edmonton and as a young person lived in many parts of Canada. She developed a fascination with the sea during a childhood vacation trip to the Maritimes. In 1975, she moved to Nova Scotia to study marine biology at Acadia University. Thereafter her work as a professional biologist engaged her in intimate studies of seaweeds, invertebrates and fish. Her artistic career paralleled her scientific career until, eventually, her passion for painting dominated. She now has been a full-time artist for over a decade. Helen works with acrylics on canvas, or ink and watercolour on paper, to create colourful, amusingly narrative images that reflect her interest in marine life.