Helen Black is an illustrator living in the seaside town on Brighton U.K.Originally from Lancashire she was brought up in an artistic family, as her Dad is an artist and was an art teacher so drawing and painting have always played a huge part in her life. It was a given that she would go to art college and after realising she was too ‘messy’ for graphic design she decided to study Printed Textiles at Birmingham Polytechnic.

After graduating moving to London was the right choice and there she designed garment patterns and fashion graphics for Marks & Spencer, BHS and Kickers. She then moved to Brighton to work in a studio designing fashion prints and after 3 years took the plunge to go freelance.

Since finding her own style she has been featured in the Print & Pattern Nature book and worked with clients including, Talking Tables, Hallmark, Woodmansterne and Ling Design, designing for many products from party tableware to jigsaws as well as cards.

” I still get a proud thrill when I see my work in stores. I’m so lucky to be doing a job I truly love.”

Helen uses a mix of painted, drawn and digital techniques, black ink being her tool of choice when creating textures and patterns for her work.

She loves using bright bold colours, especially a punchy pink and loves to create fun characters as well as illustrating florals.

When working her cat, Earl, sleeps on her desk, as he always has since a kitten but he is her muse many days too. She also lives with her partner who can only draw stick men!

When not designing she loves swimming in her local pool and in Summer the sea, walking, a good movie and a spooky paranormal podcast! Litter picking is her new hobby which is her ‘meditation’ time and helps keep the beach clean.