Friday 31 August 2012

Celebrating UK Artists 8: Hels Sheridan



Welcome to the 8th interview celebrating the talents of British artists in the field of scrapbooking, photography, mixed-media, art journaling, feltmaking and quilting.  Some names you may know and some may not be so familiar but they are all hugely talented.




Brief Bio
Hels has been crafting in one form or another since she was a little girl when she used to cover herself, her Grandma and every available surface with glitter and cotton wool. She really got bitten by the papercrafting bug back in 2003 when she took up cardmaking and scrapbooking. 

A chance meeting with Tim Holtz in 2007 made Hels realise that her true passion lays with anything inky and stampy. She created her blog, the aptly named Ink On My Fingers (pinkleart.blogspot.com) in September 2007, and she shares snippets from her daily life along with tips, techniques, tutorials and artwork. She has been published in several craft magazines and is currently on the Craft Stamper Design Team. Hels is a Certified Ranger Educator and has been teaching workshops for the last three years and she is also a regular demonstrator at the Alexandra Palace craft show. More recently, Hels has brought her art and passion for crafting to Create & Craft TV with the wonderful Studio 490 range, that, in Hels’ own words is “the best range of crafty stash in the world”  (she even put on a Jeremy Clarkson voice when she said that!)


*Who or what are your creative influences?  And why?
One of the most influential people in my crafty life is Wendy Vecchi. I love her products, stamps and her unique attention to the tiny details that are a major part of Wendy’s Art. I get a lot of inspiration from nature too; sunset and sunrise are those special times of day that flood my mind with colours that get my creativity flowing.  Of course, it would be remiss of me to mention that the main influence in the techniques that I use is Tim Holtz. I have a passion for all things Distress and really don’t bother to use any other inks to colour with – in my mind, they do the job I want them to do.


*What is your preferred medium of creativity?   What appeals to you about this?
I am a Ranger girl at heart and have yet to find a Ranger product that I don’t like or want to use. Their inks, sprays, paints and powders are by far, in my opinion, the best in the World.  I view things in the Distress palette now too... so a sunrise would be a smidge of Wild Honey with a smattering of Worn Lipstick and Tumbled Glass.


*What other areas of creativity do you dabble in?
 Oh how I would love to be able to say that I can knit, sew, cook and bake. But I can’t... so I don’t even bother trying!  I do, however, make jewellery... necklaces and bracelets, bag charms and baubles... if it is pearly or sparkly it will get used.  I also love Altered Art. I have got boxes and boxes of old bits of junk in my Room of Stash, all awaiting alteration; I will get around to them one day!


*What is one of your earliest creative memories?
Making mud pies and adding pebbles to them to make them pretty!  Seriously!  Making Christmas cards whilst watching Blue Peter on the telly and getting thoroughly covered in glitter and cotton wool. My Grandma had the utmost patience with me and my card making endeavours. I remember once making a bluebell card using tiny twists of coloured tissue paper... ahhh happy days.


*Pablo Picasso said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”   How did you find this transition worked in your life?
Haha, I never grew up!!!


*How did you find your creative style?
I kind of stumbled upon it. I started making cards and progressed from there.  Seeing friends using rubberstamps and ink and loving the results pushed me to explore my creative side.


*What activity do you use to jumpstart your creativity?
Ah, when Mr Mojo goes off on his holidays eh?  Well, I will for sure tidy up the Room of Stash. Then I will get a sketch book and draw a few ideas down for tags. Tags are my “go to” thing to make.  Along with the tag there will inevitably be something Tim Holtz, be it stamps or embellishments, Grungepaper or Grungeboard. Sometimes if the Mojo is really taking a long break I will go and make some jewellery... or go for a nosey online at shops and see what products are out there that I might... ahem, need!



*Describe your style in using 5 different words.  Share your thoughts about these words.

Mmm, a difficult one ... I think my style is evolving all the time. Something that I made this time last year is going to be different to what I make right now. I think that because the world of craft is ever evolving, tastes change, fashions change, new products arrive in store... and my own styles vary. I am definitely grungy and inky. I can’t do clean and simple – I always end up over embellishing it. I am definitely a more is more crafter.
That’s more than 5 words. Ok, I am being good now: grungy, inky, stamper, floral, distressed.


*Favourite art gallery or museum?
My favourite museum is not actually “arty”. It is the National Railway Museum in York. That comes from my background on the railway.




Where you can find Hels
Twitter: Hels_Sheridan

If you were able to ask Hels anything what would you ask?  Please add your question to the comments below.

See you next Friday for an interview with Karen Rao.

54 comments:

  1. Another excellent interview with clever people. Well done. I love Hels style. Don't know the next person so looking forward to that. X

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  2. Thank you Bernice for inviting me to take part in your Friday Feature, I am very honoured. x

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  3. Just popped over from Hels blog to read this interview. Its wonderful and we need to convince Hels that she is an artist!
    Emma

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    1. haha, never... unless I decide to go all Pablo Picasso on you all lol

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  4. hels is an artist extraordinaire and a lovely lady to boot...great to see you featured here...hugs kath xxx

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  5. Thanks again Bernice, for an interesting interview. Although we may have heard of your 'guests' and seen their work in a variety of places, it's always good to know a little more! Or am I just nosey? Cheers, EmmG

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    1. I am the same... love to know more about peeps ... thanks Emm x

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  6. Hels is indeed a wonderful artist, but also a wonderful maker of soup xx#

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  7. I didn't know about this site until the interview with Hels, loving the interviews, thanks Bernice.

    Great interview Hels xx

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  8. What could be better than an interview with Hels!? Loved the questions you asked, bernice, and of course, Hels' answers were great and inspiring. I also view things in "distress" colors... My house is 'bundled sage', my car is walnut stain, and when the sun hits the car it looks like heirloom gold perfect pearls mist was spritzed over it. :)

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  9. Lovely interview Bernice, question for Hels....can I come and live in your spare room and I will be your crafty slave and clean your room of stash as long as I can play there too! lol
    Keep making Art

    MaggieH

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    1. course you can... I shall have it de-spidered in your honour lol

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  10. Great interview with the lovely Hels, and some beautiful photos x

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  11. AWESOME interview with THE one & only...Hels Sheridan.

    Your art is wonderful...so happy we got to meet!
    Thanks so much for the kind words.
    MWAH!

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    1. Bless you Wendy Vecchi... I am honoured to know you xx

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  12. Hels is one stunning crafter and person who inspires all of us to push the creative boundaries harder and get more inky in the process! A true artist. Buttons x

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  13. Hels and also Kath (above in the comments) have been my true inspiration, it was they who got me into some serious crafting. Hels' work is just amazing and I see her as an Artist with a capital 'A' even if she finds that hard. A wonderful interview Bernice, great questions too. Anne x

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    1. aw, am really blushing now... am chuffed that you felt inspired by me though... very chuffed! Thanks Anne x

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  14. great interview and I would just like to point out that not only is Hels very craftily talented she can make a fantastic choccy cake ( which i missed this year) and a great lasagne, mmmmmmm making me hungry, this lady has lots of amazing talent and being a good friend is also on that list x

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  15. oops should of put my name not anonymous, by the way it was me Andrea that wrote the above message x

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  16. What a lovely interview with one of our best crafters!!!:-)
    Thankyou
    Jan Dunham.x

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  17. Great to see Hels' featured, I love her art. Will be back to check out the next one....

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  18. Great interview with Hels, her lovely work always inspires me want to go and create....well I try to anyway ha ha ha xxx

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  19. Wonderful blog, and what a great interveiw Bernice, I've just arrived from Hels blog, I'm a new visitor here too. You asked brilliant questions and Hels answers were a treat too. I'm not surprised to read about her making decorated mud pies. This brought back memories of my early play times too, great fun making stuff from clay from the garden, it's lovely stuff when your 4 or 5, though thinking now, I must have been a nightmare to wash up ufter, poor mum! I agree nature is the best inspiration for artists so totally understand her love of colour and the inspiration we get from this too. I'm off to read your other interveiws now. Thanks

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  20. Super interview with Hels, who is always such an inspiration...Carole ~ X

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  21. fabulous interview with one of the nicest sweetest most talented inspiring and gowguss ladies i have the honour of knowing. tony x

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    1. you say the nicest things Tony... the cheques in the post rofl x

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  22. Graet to see Hels recognised in this way, she is a lovely lady with a big heart.

    Hiugs Joan x

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  23. Terrific interview with a terrific lady! Really enjoyed this, thank you.

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  24. A great interview , hels is an inspiring artist . Whose makes are amazing and inspirational ,
    Trace x

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    1. Fanx Trace... inspiring... am chuffed that I can do that!! x

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  25. A Fab interview and coildn't have picked a great artist.She has inspired me and still goes on to inspire me .You go girl Hels you so deserve this!~Here's to many more years of crafting

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    1. Thanks Jude...yep, plenty more crafting left in me x

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  26. What a fantastic blog this is! Came over from Hels's blog but will be sure to read the other interviews.

    I know that Hels doesn't count herself as an artist but in my opinion she most definitely IS!!!!

    Love that Picasso quote, and the response made me chuckle!!

    Charli x

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    1. Thanks Charli... yep, never grew up, growing up is for old people lol x

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  27. THANK YOU all for your amazing comments... blushes aplenty here. Thank you Bernice for showcasing me in your interview, tis an honour to be here amongst so many amazing artists... am off now with a hoooge grin on my face!! xx

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    1. So, Hels, I hope you realise now that everyone considers you to be an Artist.

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