Helen Arthur

My special place is in the Brecon Beacons – you’ll find me in my stone-built home and studio in the remote Olchon Valley, under the shadow of Offa’s Dyke and Hatterall Hill. The Cat’s Back and Skirrid mountains bookend the ridge. If I'm not there, I'm in my garden or out among the hills with a messy sketchbook.

Though we're remote, I can guarantee once you get here, you won’t feel disappointed… This part of the world offers breathtaking views – essential to my art making. My cottage garden is a riot of colour in September too, so fingers crossed for some sun so you can relax out there during your visit.

My art practice is open and evolving. I take photographs, sketch (inside and out), and draw or paint in mixed media most days (obsessive, yes!) Ink and oil and cold wax are my favourite two mediums, although very different. A lot of work is created in sketchbooks and on paper; it's not for "sale" as it's is all about process, discovery, abstraction and knowledge gathering. When I work on larger "formal" pieces, I find myself gesturing towards the recognisable natural world, though it' s my mission for the art to become more abstracted as my practice evolves. My printwork – mostly a form of low-toxicity etching – focuses on the intimate spaces of hedgerows and coppices, or sometimes our British birds and insects.

My largest artwork to date is my garden makeover; I'd love to share this magical space with you.