Description

Helen Tabor

Helen Tabor has lived in the Scottish Borders for the past fifteen years with her partner and three children. Her paintings are very much inspired by her surroundings, in particular the rural Scottish Borders countryside, and the soft seascapes of south west Scotland.

Whilst the figure paintings are more defined and linear, her landscapes are expressive and abstract but both styles hold something more enigmatic – a vagueness perhaps which takes you into the world of imagination.

Born in Middlesex in 1960, Helen Tabor graduated with English and History at the University of York in 1981. A self-taught artist, Tabor drew her inspiration from Chagall and Picasso. Since 1986, she has successfully exhibited in numerous galleries both North and South of the border, including RSA and SAAC Royal Academy in Edinburgh. Helen’s work can be found in private collections both here and abroad.

Biography
1960 Born Middlesex
1978-1981 University of York BA English and History
1983-1984 University of York PGCE
1984-1987 Teacher of English, Drama and Art,Boroughbridge School.
1987-1992 Teacher of English, Paro High school, Bhutan, Asia
1990-1992 Field Officer for Voluntary Service Overseas, Bhutan.
1992 Moved to Scottish Borders.
1997-2002 Borders College teacher of art.
1997-date Full-time Artist

Solo exhibitions
2002 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2003 The Mainhill Gallery, Edinburgh Festival show.
2004 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2007 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2009 Rowley Contemporary Art, Winchester.
2010 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.
2011 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth
2011 Art Amatoria, Edinburgh.
2015 Albion Gallery, Chipping Norton.
2016 Thompsons Gallery, Aldburgh.
2017 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth.

Selected group exhibitions
1996 Society of Artists and Artist Craftsmen, Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh 1996 Edinburgh Arts Club.
1997 SAAC Royal Scottish Academy.
1998 SAAC Perth Festival exhibition, Perth City Arts centre.
1998 SAAC Royal Scottish Academy.
1998 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy
1999 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy.
2000 Art Edinburgh, Mainhill Gallery, Edinburgh festival exhibition.
2000 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London.
2001 Glasgow Art Fair with The Mainhill Gallery.
2002 Glasgow,Bristol and Battersea Affordable Art Fairs
2003 Visual Arts Scotland Royal Scottish Academy
2004 Art London, Chelsea with the Mainhill Gallery.
2004 ‘Ports of Call’ DronninglindKunstcentre, Denmark sponsored by The Danish Arts Council.
2005 Thompsons Gallery, London, The Scottish Show.
2006 Thompsons Gallery, Aldburgh.Three woman show.
2007 Thompsons Gallery, London.Three person show.
2008 Thompsons Gallery, London.Three person show.
2010 Royal Scottish Academy, Annual open exhibition.
2011 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy show.
Marinehouse at Beer, two woman show.
2012 Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy.
2013 Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy.
Royal Society of Scottish watercolourists, Royal Scottish Academy.
2014 Castlegatehouse Gallery, Cockermouth, two person show.
2015 Gullane Gallery , three person show.
2017 Three woman show, Smithy Gallery, Glasgow.

Prizes
2011 Lily McDougal Award, Visual Arts Scotland , RSA
2013 Gullane Gallery award, Royal Society Scottish Watercolourists, RSA
2015 Selected for The Gordon Smith Memorial Exhibition, Dovecote Gallery, Edinburgh.