About

Helen McDonald Mathie was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She has lived in Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, for over 20 years. She paints mainly Scottish landscapes.

I was born in Newcastle, so can be called a Geordie, however I’m now more of a Scot maybe? I attended a Foundation Course at Newcastle College of Arts and Technology, then gained a Degree inFine Art from the University of Reading, after which I went in to a PGCE course at Cardiff.

Whist at Reading studying Fine Art my tutors included Terry Frost, Tom Barrett and visiting lecturers such as Anish Kapoor and Mali Morris. The influences for the students then were on qualities of colour, texture, space and abstraction in painting. With the legacy of the Cornish artists through Terry Frost and hints of Tachism, Constructivism and performance Art being explored, the art department at the University of Reading provided a lively and stimulating education.

Hints of this now occur in my paintings. Although my paintings are representational. Through these images of the land, seas and harbours I aim to create an energy with brushstrokes and colour application, to try and gain the essence of a place.

I love to paint the Northumbrian Coastline and the landscape of Scotland. I can often be found paintings bridges, local and from further afield.

I took part in Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the year in 2020. I was the overall Wildcard winner and therefore a semi finalist. Great fun!