Charly Helyar

Charly Helyar is a British artist based and working in London. Her artistic practice is rooted in a deep exploration of human themes, particularly love and violence. She employs a range of figurative and abstract drawing and painting techniques to investigate these subjects, with a particular focus on colour relationships and composition.

Drawing serves as a foundational element in Helyar's work, providing a framework for her explorations. She uses drawing as a tool for discovery, technical exercise, and finished artwork in its own right. Her recent residency in Senegal saw her create a large-scale wall and ceiling drawing in wax crayon, depicting life in St Louis.

Helyar's paintings often begin with small drawings made from life, capturing moments of everyday existence. These drawings are then reworked in the studio to form the basis of larger paintings. Her recent series, "Reasons to be Cheerful," tackles difficult subjects like aging, sexuality, and war through vibrant colours and dynamic compositions.

Helyar's "Lament" series employs drawing to investigate human connection, while her "Days of Greatness" etchings explore the impact of scale on artwork. She approaches materials with meticulous care, often making her own gesso and paint and selecting surfaces based on their potential to add meaning to the work. Helyar's commitment to experimentation and her ability to work across various scales and mediums demonstrate her versatility as an artist.