Magee Takes It Outside

Helen with Drummin To The Shore #2 8FEB24

s with any true artist, Helen Magee is always keen to try new, untrodden paths, new methods, new sensations.

Sure, it’s why she agreed to marry that Byrne fella, despite all the warnings.

With her Hairy Fruit Art illustrations gracing many a home across the land and far beyond, Helen has now turned her attention to abstract art. And the first fruits of her new adventure are now hanging on the walls at The Harbour Kitchen restaurant down by, well, the harbour.

Two 1-metre square canvasses entitled Drummin To The Sea, and available as a 2-metre diptyque or individually, Helen says of the work, “My paintings often represent good days and places in my life where I captured images and then they captured me. Sometimes great colours themselves inspire me to create. I paint with gusto and generous quantities of paint using lively knife or brush strokes. Life, light, texture and movement is important to achieve.

“I want the viewer to visually join me in the action like they were beside me at the easel. Each artwork tells my own story about a place or experience and my new abstract work does this in a more intuitive way.”

Hmm, sounds like we might have the blossoming of a hippy on our hands.

With plans to create a body of work this year for exhibiting locally and further afield, Helen is keen to get her hands merrily dirty as she explores where oil painting can take her.

You can check out those first steps at The Harbour Kitchen right now, or go explore online right here.