artist and creative facilitator
Helen Bradbury
Artist
Helen Bradbury
Artist, printmaker, collaborator.
Working between studio, landscape, and community, Helen Bradbury creates work rooted in connection—between people, places, and the quiet stories that shape us. Her practice spans fine art, education, and healthcare, where creativity becomes a means of expression, healing, and belonging.
More
Helen Bradbury is a painter and printmaker whose work weaves together threads of place, people, and quiet transformation.
Born in the Midlands of England in 1963, Helen trained at Wolverhampton College of Art, graduating with First Class Honours in Fine Art. Under the guidance of tutors from the Royal College of Art, she honed a practice rooted in observation, reflection, and a deep sensitivity to materials and meaning.
Since moving to Northern Ireland in 1988, her creative path has unfolded in dialogue with landscape and community. From gallery walls to classroom tables, museum halls to hospital wards, Helen’s work reaches beyond the solitary studio. She has initiated and led countless art projects across County Down and Antrim and further afield, forging connections through creativity with people of all ages and abilities.
Her collaboration with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Artists in Schools Programme extended her practice across the province, while partnerships with institutions such as the Dublin National Gallery, Downpatrick Museum, and Banbridge College enriched her role as an artist-educator.
In 1994, Helen began working with Arts Care, planting the seeds of a long-standing practice in healthcare settings. Here, she explores the quiet power of art to comfort, communicate, and transform, especially for those living with disability, illness, or vulnerability. This work remains at the heart of her artistic life.
Helen continues to exhibit widely, and her public and personal commissions emerge from conversations—with people, places, and memory. Each piece is a response, intimate and site-specific, connecting her creative voice with the world around her.
What Helen Offers
Helen Bradbury’s practice is grounded in presence, process, and connection—offering a range of creative pathways for individuals, communities, and organisations.
Artwork
Original works available for exhibition or purchase—pieces shaped by landscape, memory, and material. Each artwork holds a quiet, reflective dialogue with the world around it.
Personal Commissions
Helen creates bespoke pieces that are deeply personal and site-responsive. Through close conversation with clients, she crafts work that reflects story, setting, and spirit.
Exhibition Opportunities
Galleries, curators, and public venues are invited to explore exhibition partnerships. Helen’s work moves fluidly between fine art and socially engaged practice, offering rich potential for collaborative display.
Creative Facilitation
With a thoughtful and inclusive approach, Helen delivers workshops and projects that nurture creativity across age groups and abilities. Her facilitation extends into schools, community spaces, and healthcare environments.
Materials & Mediums
Paint – oil, watercolour, acrylic: fluid, layered, expressive.
Paper – drawing, collage: textured, fragmented, tactile.
Photography – a quiet lens on fleeting moments: light, shadow, and the poetry of the everyday.
Video – capturing the natural world and environmental stillness: light, rhythm, atmosphere.
Collaboration
Helen actively collaborates with individuals, communities, and health organisations. Her work is rooted in empathy, connection, and co-creation.
She holds full Public Liability Insurance.
Workshops With Helen Bradbury
2026 WATERCOLOUR AFTERNOONs
Now Booking and Ideal for Gifts or Shared Experiences.
This is an invitation and opportunity for to you to join me at Hidden Huntley just outside Belfast for an afternoon of watercolour painting in this beautiful garden setting.
No experience necessary – all materials and light refreshments will be provided.
kind words & Testimonials
Helen is very good at adjusting to the mood of the room, if she feels like everyone is having a tired day she will create a very relaxed activity and is always thinking on her feet which is a brilliant trait.
Day Coordinator, The Base, Ballycastle
Ellie Anna
Very mindful and creative – great way to spend an afternoon!
M D
Very enjoyable art class … Hope there will be many more.
C. Williamson
Very calming and relaxing. I think this is the quietest I have ever been as I got lost in what I was doing.
Beautiful inks make amazing colours. Helen was very helpful in giving inspiration without leading you .
Debbie
As a therapist participating in the group, to have someone adjust and understand what kind of creative medium I need felt very safe. I always came away feeling lighter and that I had left something behind that had took on a whole new meaning for me.
Occupational Therapist, CAHMS
Laura Docherty
I found the course very interesting learning to use paints and various colours. I am currently recovering from spinal surgery and have chronic pain daily and sleep poorly due to this which can be debilitating. Therefore for me this workshop has helped to take my mind off my ongoing symptoms.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people band the tutor and artist were great, very helpful and engaging with everyone.
I have been recently retired under medical grounds due to my condition and would love to get involved in more classes.
J K
This was a very enjoyable class and I am learning so much about colours and shading. Thank you so much.
Cathie Dallas
I really enjoyed the course. I found the way of teaching really easy to understand so I was able to do more than I thought. I also found it really relaxing and was able to focus just to n what I was doing, which is something I find hard to do with a busy life.
I would love to do further courses to learn more from the tutor.
G M
Helen lends her creativity, knowledge, skill and love of art to passionate and eager blind and partially people to delve into a world they didn’t know was available to them opening imaginations and giving a platform to a new way of communicating.
She ignited a desire for people to do more and go further with their way of seeing – tempting out their ‘inner eye’.
Community Connection Coordinator, RNIB
Una Mulgrew
It is a pleasure to work alongside someone that can understand the trajectory of a session based on how a young person presents on the day. Helen’s sensitivity to the needs and grading required to support clients is what led to us developing projects time after time. Even with an often over enthusiastic OT, Helen always completes projects that create huge emotive impact in our clinical environments.
CAHMS NHSCT
I have learnt not to be afraid of colour.
Jenny
Back again for visit 5. I love how calming and grounding this exhibition is. I just wish there was a wing backed chair to sit in.
S Mackie
figurative work
HB
Graphite paint metallic pigment on paper 30x92cm
HB
HB
metatic pigment compressed charcoal and oil on paper 36x40cm
Videos
Videos on Youtube by helen bradbury
'snapshots of thought'
Including Painting Detail
Original work for sale
