Artist of the Month - June 2008 - Helen Palmer

Welcome to our Artist of the Month feature for June, and congratulations to Helen Palmer for being our selected artist.

Hi Helen - can you tell us a little about yourself, and how you got started as a photographer?

I’m a freelance photographer specialising in art, architectural and commercial photography. I am based in Liverpool and have been working for myself for two years.

Originally from North Yorkshire I moved to Liverpool nine years ago to go to university. I studied History, after which I went travelling for a year, which is when I made the decision to re-train as a photographer.

What are you favourite subjects to photograph?

I love to photograph architecture, particularly in black and white. My images are often abstract in nature and I hand print all my own monochromatic images. I also take a more abstract approach to landscape and macro photography, in order to create beautiful images in their own right. Recently I have been growing in confidence with portraiture and have been developing my skills as a travel photographer.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists and photographers, or for those new to art?

Its worth all the hard work in order to be able to work for yourself and do something you love. Even if it does means having to keep up the day job for a while until you establish yourself.

What do you hope people see in your work?

My images tend to be abstract and painterly in style so I hope people can depict some kind of beauty in what they see. e) I really love Tarkovsky’s Polaroid images and Helene Binet’s black and white architectural photography.

What painting, photograph or work of art do you wish you had produced?

Any of Steve McCurry’s travel images, particularly those captured in India.

Apart from your portfolio at artfair365, how do you promote your work - are you a member of any societies, and do you have any exhibitions planned?

I have my own website to promote my work. I also have selections of my portfolio on two Liverpool based galleries’ websites.

I recently took part in an exhibition with seven other Liverpool based photographers. We photographed 800 Liverpool people on Liverpool’s 800th birthday in 12 hours; the images were exhibited at Albert Dock. The results can be seen at www.popcultured.co.uk.

I am also currently working on a project in association with Riverside Housing once again to capture portraits of people based in Liverpool.

From your own portfolio, which are your favourite 3 artworks?

Of my portfolio I like Landscape 3, Panoramic 4 and Travel 14.

Click here to view Helen's portfolio.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for May - Leyla Murr.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for April - Jean Dayton.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for March - Victoria Stanway.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for February - Patrick Palmer.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for January - Caren Thompson.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for December - Simon Wild.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for November - Sally Bassett.

Click here to view our Artist of the Month for October - Bill Jackson.