Helga Chart RWS

I trained at Edinburgh College of Art (1962 – 67) and I owe a debt of gratitude to my inspirational teachers of the time, amongst whom were Sir Robin Philipson, John Houston and Sir William Gillies. Both my parents were practising artists so much of my early influences were textile and graphic in nature. My development as an artist centers round my original interest in painting, but aspects of print, collage and textile are also significant in my work.

Exhibitions

Helga Chart exhibits annually with:

• The Royal Watercolour Society
• The Royal Glasgow Institute
• The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
• The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour
• Roger Billcliffe, Glasgow
• The Glasgow Group

Awards

• Sir William Gillies Award, The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (2007)
• St Cuthbert’s Mill Award, The Royal Watercolour Society (2004)
• Scottish Arts Club Award, The RSW (2004)
• Dorothy Duff Memorial Award, Visual Art Scotland (1999) 
• The RSW Council Award (1998)
  

Collections

Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh District Council
IBM (UK)
Paintings in Hospitals (Scotland)
Railtrack

Membership

Elected a Professional Member of The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (1994) Council Member (1997 - 2000) Vice President (2004 – 2007).

Elected Proffessional Member of Visual Arts Scotland (1996) Council Member and Vice-President (1997 – 2000)

Subject Matter

I work freely with mixed media and watercolour. I also work in oils. In all cases I incorporate print and collage and like to explore the potential of challenging and unusual surfaces. My subject matter is often based on landscape, natural form and the weather of seasons. My development and process towards a final ‘piece’ includes study of writing, often contemporary Scottish poetry and writing. I travel within Scotland – the Western Isles being a particularly fruitful spot. I also visit natural history collections, both at home and abroad. Studies in these collections provide me with valuable information for development into final pieces.

Helga Chart RWS