Helen Dryden
Helen Dryden
Artist Statement / Biography 13th February 2021
Located in Leeds, UK, I create drawings and paintings with atmospheric or emotional resonance, which can often veer into absurdity.
Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, I explore the tension between life as external ‘reality’ and my inner imagination and emotions. My paintings are sometimes inspired by sketches and photographs I have taken of friends and family; at other times they are purely imaginary scenarios.
Music, walking amongst trees, and horror/sci-fi books and films feed my interest in perception, alternate realities and the exploration of humanity and nature’s strangeness. I think about humanity’s place in the world, and how we fit in with each other and our environment.
I combine abstract with figurative imagery to create paintings that can be ambiguous and dreamlike, or more representational. Within the body of my work the viewer can be free to make their own associations, as they weave in and out of reality.
I studied BA (Hons) Graphic Arts and Design at Leeds Metropolitan University and MA Curation Practices at Leeds Arts University, and have a Foundation Degree from Cleveland College of Art.
I am the curator of Compact Contemporary gallery, a miniature art gallery which can be viewed on Instagram @compactcontemporary
Education:
MA Curation Practices - Leeds Arts University
BA (Hons) Graphic Arts & Design - Leeds Beckett University
Foundation Course - Cleveland College of Art & Design
Solo exhibitions:
2020 - Tidal Reality (online exhibition)
2018 – A speck of dust, Heart, Leeds
2016 - New Paintings, BrewDog Leeds (Love Arts Leeds)
2015 - East Street Arts Open Studios, Leeds
2015 - Boom Shk (g’dit g’dit dat), Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, Manchester
2014 – Another New Entry, Jordan's Solicitors, Wakefield (part of Artwalk Wakefield)
2014 – Sodium Laureth Sulphate, The Crooked House, Leeds
2013/14 – bof! Bowery Visual Arts, Leeds
2007 - Paintings and Printings, Otley Courthouse, Otley
2006 - Helen Dryden at The Reform Bar, The Reform Bar, Leeds., Leeds
2005 - Solo Exhibition, Art's Cafe, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Selected Group Exhibitions:
*Curator
2021 - Leeds Summer Group Show (online)
Personifying Pleasure, Stay Home Gallery (online)
Jungle, Katmapped.org (online)
Longlisted, D31 Art Prize
2020 - Creatures, Beasts, Myths - Vacant Museum (online)
Uncovered Streets – Instagram @uncovered_streets curated by Sarah Grant
2019 – Hygge, kapow! Coffee, Leeds.
Twice as nice, PS Mirabel, Manchester
Huddersfield Summer Exhibition, The Making Space, Huddersfield.
SIZE Matters, Gallery One, The World of Glass, St Helens
2017 – Capturing Movement, Studio 3 Gallery, University of Kent, Canterbury
with Kat Archibald, Paper Idols, Alfred, Leeds
Hand In/Hand Out (Double Yolk), Lime Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Hip Hop Happy Birthday, Sela Bar, Leeds.
2016 – SPECTRUM, PS Mirabel, Manchester
Her Sela Art Thing II, Sela Bar, Leeds
Moments, The Bowery, Leeds
2015 - Screen Dump at Love Arts Leeds*
Shelf Life, PS Mirabel, Manchester
2014 - Otley Courthouse 10th Anniversary show, Otley
Mexico Members' Show, Mexico, Leeds
2013 - Colourful Creations, The Classroom Gallery, Nottingham
2009 - Leeds Gallery Open, Leeds Art Gallery
Particles, Particles, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
2008 - Leeds Bradford Imprint, Tonic Art Space at LGI, The Carriageworks, and Leeds Design Innovation Centre, Leeds
Salon, Patrick Studios, St Mary's Lane, Leeds
2007 - 7 Year Itch, Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery, Leeds
Imprint, Leeds General Infirmary Tonic Gallery, Design Innovation Centre, The Light, Leeds
Leeds Artists' Show 2007, Leeds Art Gallery
Shoes: The Agony and the Ecstasy, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford
2006 - Artist's Show 2006, Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds
Multiply, Corn Exchange, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Off The Shelf, Saltburn Gallery, Saltburn, North Yorkshire
Sefton Open 2006, The Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport, Merseyside
Testbed 4, Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery, Leeds
2004 - Keighley Arts Factory, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Portraits Now, Crescent Arts, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Art Fairs:
2020 – The Virtual Art Fair – Second Edition https://www.thevirtualartfair.co.uk/
2017 – Art&, York Racecourse, York
2013 – Juju Showcase Spectacular, Leeds
2013 – MAKE Art and Design Fair, Wakefield
2007 - Leeds Art Fair Lite, The Light, Leeds
2005 and 2006 - Leeds Art Fair, The Light, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Competitions, prizes and awards:
2019 – Highly Commended – Leeds Museums and Galleries Armistace and After: Peace Outreach Volunteer. (Outstanding contribution to engaging museum audiences)
2015 - CIT (Creative Industries Trafford) Micro-Commission Award, selected in partnership with Castlefield Gallery. This award is funded by Arts Council England and seeks to help develop the work of promising contemporary artists.
2009 - Who are you? Photographic competition - runner up, Impressions Gallery, Bradford, West Yorkshire
2008 - Creative 30 - Nomination, VICE, Volvo, The Independent and Yahoo!, www.creative30.net
2008 - Street and Studio: Urban portraiture photography competition., Tate Modern, London, UK
Publications:
'Street or Studio' photobook
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/exhibition/street-studio/street-or-studio-photobook
Catalogue 'Capturing Movement', University of Kent
'Then and now' 10th anniversary of The Bowery, Leeds.
Press (Art Practice:)
https://www.madeinleeds.tv/player/?playercat=90655&vid=hhj7t0p7&v=2 (interview)
http://www.madeinleeds.tv/player/?playercat=76647&vid=g60zmp15(Interview 5 mins in)
https://galleryguy1.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/moments-of-contemplation-the-bowery-moments-exhibition/
https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/now-showing-146-the-weeks-top-exhibitions
http://www.axisweb.org/thinking-and-ideas/2016/05/five2watch-animals/
Press (Curatorial:)
https://news.leeds.gov.uk/historic-ww1-photos-brought-to-life-for-moving-museums-display/
