about
helen tabor paintings
My name is Helen Tabor and I am a scottish painter living and working in the Scottish Borders. I was born in Middlesex in 1960 and studied English and History at York University. I spent a number of years teaching in The Himalayas before settling in Scotland in 1995.
All my work is in oil on canvas or board. I usually start with a background of collage which creates a textured, patterned effect on which I can build my painting. I often work with large brushes, applying the paint boldly initially and then refining the image as I develop the painting. Using a collage base gives depth and takes me in interesting directions so that the painting is to some extent led by the interaction between the paint and what is underneath.
My inspiration comes from many sources, among them the great Scottish painters of the last century, William Mctaggart, Joan Eardly, Anne Redpath, William Gillies and John Maxwell; music, my family, the surrounding hills, fields and shores of southern Scotland and Picasso.
My subject matter may be landscape, seascape, still life or figures although my main interests are in the properties of colour, the effects created by the movement of the paint and in the mood I create in a painting.
inspiration
Castlegate House Gallery
Susie Watson Designs
helen tabor biography
1960 Born Middlesex
1978-1981 University of York BA English and History
1983-1984 University of York PGCE
1984-1987 Teacher of English, Drama and Art, Boroughbridge School.
1987-1992 Teacher of English, Paro High school, Bhutan, Asia
1990-1992 Field Officer for Voluntary Service Overseas, Bhutan.
1992 Moved to Scottish Borders.
1997-2002 Borders College teacher of art.
1997-date Full-time Artist
Solo exhibitions
2002 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2003 The Mainhill Gallery, Edinburgh Festival show.
2004 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2007 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2009 Rowley Contemporary Art, Winchester.
2010 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2011 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth
2011 Art Amatoria, Edinburgh.
2015 Albion Gallery, Chipping Norton.
2016 Thompsons Gallery, Aldburgh.
2017 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2019 Thompsons Gallery, Aldburgh
2020 Smithy Gallery, Blanefield, Glasgow
Selected group exhibitions
1996 Society of Artists and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1996 Edinburgh Arts Club.
1997 SAAC Royal Scottish Academy.
1998 SAAC Perth Festival exhibition, Perth City Arts centre.
1998 SAAC Royal Scottish Academy.
1998 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy
1999 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy.
2000 Art Edinburgh, Mainhill Gallery, Edinburgh festival exhibition.
2000 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London.
2001 Glasgow Art Fair with The Mainhill Gallery.
2002 Glasgow, Bristol and Battersea Affordable Art Fairs
2003 Visual Arts Scotland Royal Scottish Academy
2004 Art London, Chelsea with the Mainhill Gallery.
2004 ‘Ports of Call’ Dronninglind Kunstcentre, Denmark sponsored by The Danish Arts Council.
2005 Thompsons Gallery, London, The Scottish Show.
2006 Thompsons Gallery, Aldburgh. Three woman show.
2007 Thompsons Gallery, London. Three person show.
2008 Thompsons Gallery, London. Three person show.
2010 Royal Scottish Academy, Annual open exhibition.
2011 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy show. Marinehouse at Beer, two woman show.
2012 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy.
2013 Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy. Royal Society of Scottish watercolourists, Royal Scottish Academy.
2014 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth, two person show.
2015 Gullane Gallery , three person show.
2017 Three woman show, Smithy Gallery, Glasgow.
2020 Art London with Thompsons Gallery.
Prizes
2011 Lily McDougal Award, Visual Arts Scotland , RSA
2013 Gullane Gallery award, Royal Society Scottish Watercolourists, RSA
2015 Selected for The Gordon Smith Memorial Exhibition, Dovecote Gallery, Edinburgh.
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