Gibraltar
Helen Rea -
Watercolour Artist Gibraltar
I'm Helen, an independent artist in Gibraltar, I have been enamoured with drawing and creating art from a young age. I have won many accolades in sketching, design, pastel and charcoal and am embarking on a new venture. Watercolours!
I have been painting with watercolours, portraits, landscapes and nature. Inspired by the British and Spanish elements of my adopted home. Gibraltar's unique style, vibrant colours, the sun, sea and winding streets. Creating captivating pieces that resonate has been a uniquely rewarding experience.
It has been my dream to become a full-time artist, a small business that makes a big impact on the rock.
Watercolour Painting and the Fine Arts - My Studio
Although I like to work on my watercolour painting at home best (in the garden or a local park), there are many wonderful places in Gibraltar I can use as a studio. I work from the Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Association (and workshops) in Casemate's Square as well as on Main Street, at Convent Place and Cathedral Square.
No matter where my studio may be at any given day, the integral part is finding somewhere I can focus, get into cognitive flow and give my art my all. Creating paintings outdoors can give my art some real world input - a passing breeze, the surrounding landscapes and nature, bringing a moment by moment inspiration in the atmosphere around me. These factors can impact the style of my artworks and bring some life and additional beauty to my painting or sketching and bring the essence of my artwork to life.
Original Watercolour Landscape Paintings with a Twist
The artwork I create comes from an inspiration, a feeling, a place, an interaction, an impression, architecture, a gallery, online media or simply the form, shapes and patterns in the architecture and landscape around me. Luckily, here in Gibraltar and Southern Spain, there is no shortage of ways to be inspired, I would argue it is almost impossible for a person to fail to be inspires by the beauty and culture of passion around them. I hope my artwork represents my outlook on the world itself.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions About Helen Rea
Who is the most famous Gibraltar watercolour painter?
At the moment, I am one of the few professional, watercolour artists in Gibraltar, using my paint and paper to capture life on canvas. You can find one other artist's work at the Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Association, this wonderful watercolour artist takes a different approach, painting impressionistic landscapes and nature. Her technique and style is less detailed but picks up on the colours and features of the Gibraltar landscapes that bring a beautiful feeling to the viewer.
Who are the best artists in Gibraltar today?
Gibraltar has a thriving art community! There are many, wonderful creative artists inspired by and drawing upon the unique nature of our location.
There have been many famous Gibraltarian artists over the years:
Christian Hook: Christian is contemporary painter, renowned for his vibrant portraits. He achieved with the "Freedom of Gibraltar" award in 2017 for his contribution to art. Amongst the Gibraltar population, he is considered a bit of a modern master!
Ambrose Avellano: With a 50 year long career, Avellano explored a variety of mediums; painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. One piece of his art, The Triumphal Welcome" is particularly notable and still appreciated to this day.
Mario Finlayson: Mario is an artist and an educator, considered to be instrumental the establishment of Gibraltar's National Art Gallery, now named after him! His art is heavily focused on the landscape of Gibraltar and it's winding streets and small city feeling.
Gustavo Bacarisas: Gustavo is considered an influential artist whose art reflects the blend of Gibraltarian and Andalusia. There is an art gallery named after him in Casemates Square. It displays his work and is also used by Gibraltar Culture ministry and by many other artists and photographers for competitions and exhibitions to this day.