‘Artists have to be a bit brave otherwise nobody would see what they produce’: Stourbridge artist Helen goes solo with first exhibition in her home town

“Broke Hearts” is a series of narrative paintings and drawings begun in lockdown by Helen Kelly which launched  on Friday at the Future Rebel Gallery, Grandad’s Attic  in the Bonded Warehouse, Amblecote.

Helen reached the final three of the Sky Arts competition Portrait of the Year in 2021 and said it made her think: “Maybe this is alright and I should continue painting.”

Speaking to the Express & Star before the launch which was attended by Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles, she said: “I started painting during lockdown using my family as models for quite a lot of the pieces and I entered one for the competition and got through to the later stages which was a quite a surprise and helped me make the decision to continue with it.

“I have been painting since then using old photographs, narratives and mythologies and I try to convey emotional depth in the work that I make and I hope that comes across in the exhibition.

“Originally I met Cal who runs Future Rebel when he started the project and said he needed some paintings and a few bits to get it up and running if you like and it went from there until he said why don’t you do a solo show.

“It has been quite daunting and hard work getting everything together but it is nice to see the work as a cohesive set of pieces together and I think artists have to be a bit brave otherwise nobody would see what they produce.”

Cal, who opened the gallery in August last year said:  “I am delighted to see Helen’s solo exhibition here after she has formerly displayed individual paintings  – her success in the competition and the depth of her work shows she is a very talented artist and I would encourage people to stop by and see her work.”

“Broke Hearts” runs until February 22 at the Future Rebel Gallery, with free entry at all times.