Helen McKie

Biography

Award-winning Melbourne artist Helen McKie is renowned for her realist oil paintings of Victorian architecture, Australian rural scenes and Port Phillip Bay seascapes. Helen's artistic journey reflects the beauty of her surroundings. Her deep appreciation for Australian heritage is depicted in her early paintings of historic buildings with intricate and ornate ironlace work. Her current work displays her lifelong love of landscapes and seascapes. 

Helen  has been exhibiting her paintings for over sixty years. During that time she has successfully exhibited at the Camberwell Rotary Art Show and other notable art shows, has had four solo Exhibitions and participated in several joint exhibitions. Helen has also exhibited with other prominent artists including Pro Hart, Jack Absolom and the Bush Brushmen of Broken Hill. Helen is Signatory Member since 2015 and exhibiting member of the esteemed Victorian Artists Society since 1978. In  2018, VAS awarded Helen the prestigious Undine Landscape Award for her work 'Alpine Grasses'. That year Helen was one of a select few artists invited  to participate in the VAS Mavis Little Artist of the Year Exhibition. Helen was also a member of the Realist Artist Guild and the Watercolour Society of Victoria for many years. Helen's other notable awards include First Prize Overseas League and the ANZ Mountbatten award in 1990. Her painting was acquired by the Spanish Embassy. This work was exhibted in London at the 1991 Commonwealth Royal Overseas League Exhibition.

In addition to her creative practice. Helen established and ran two highly successful Galleries: The Brighton Gallery, Brighton (1975-1985) and Hillcrest Gallery, Hampton (1992-2010). During this extensive period as Gallery Director, She also enjoyed writing quarterly articles for the prominent Arts and Antiques magazine for over a decade.
Over the years Helen has attended lectures, demonstrations and workshops run by the Victorian Artists Society, and more recently, has attended John Lawrie's art group for mentoring and to further her practice.