Although my christian name is Hélène I am known by my nick name of Poppy. Both my mother and mother in law were painters so you could say that art and painting has always been part of my life.
I had a break from painting after I had children but have taken it up again in the last 20 years!
In 1997 I embarked on a degree course in History of Art with French at the University of Sussex and graduated in 2001. During this time I was able to spend a year at Aix-en-Provence university as an Erasmus student, which in turn led me to buying a house and living in France until 2021, when I returned to live in the UK. In France the amazing colours and landscapes of Provence were inspirational, and I worked
mainly in pastels which, because of their intensity of pigments were suited to the colours I could see around me.
Since returning here my painting practice has changed dramatically partly due to the muted colours I see around me and also due to a lack of studio space. I no longer predominantly use pastels and instead use a real mix of media. I enjoy the freedom of expression that experimenting with all types of media gives me and I use everything from acrylic paint, oil paint, inks, and print, often combining them to make a finished piece. I frequently use collage in my paintings using my hand printed papers. Landscapes still inspire my painting although
I am beginning to explore abstraction.
“Art is the expression of the imagination, not the reproduction of reality.” Henry Moore.
Member of Bruton Art Society
Member of Frome Art Society
email: poppybody@gmail.com
Phone: 07887936145
Facebook: Helene Body
Instagram: @helene_body
