Helena Grimes is an Irish artist and illustrator based in Limerick, originally from Longford. Her work has been exhibited in various locations nationally in Ireland as well as internationally in the UK, Netherlands, Egypt, Turkey and USA. Her work has been purchased for several private collections in Ireland, the UK and the USA, as well as Longford County Council's municipal art collection. Her work 'Every Soul has a Dark Forest' was commissioned and purchased by the University of Limerick in 2015.
A Fine Line was a solo art exhibition by Helena which introduced the public to the most recent work by the artist that year. It was held in The Belltable in Limerick in October 2017.
In 2020, she illustrated ‘Thinking Star’ a children‘s book by author Anna Callaly . ‘Of Claws and Hooves and Meadows’ is a collection of poems by 12 fabulous poets and 4 illustrations by Helena published by UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and Poetry Ireland in 2021.
Helena was one of 13 Irish illustrators to represent Ireland in the Biennial of Illustration in Bratislava in 2021 supported by Culture Ireland.
Commissioned Work
Helena regularly works with clients on commissioned illustration projects in both commercial and personal fields. She has a range of experience in children’s books, branding, picture books, editorial, print work, stationary, and exhibitions. She is passionate about bringing to life a client's idea through drawing and design and creating charming illustrations for various projects. Helena is available for commission so do please get in touch to start discussing your ideas.
Selected clients include: UCD / Poetry Ireland / Skein Press / Gleann Buí Farm / Jameson Whiskey / Rye River Brewing Company / Fusion Magazine / Silver Apples / Irish Arts Review.
Helena is a registered member of The Limerick Printmakers.
Helena is a proud member of Illustrators Ireland
Personal Practice
Within her personal practice, her drawings desire to tell a tale or to spawn anew in the minds of the viewers. She illustrates her innermost thoughts and fragments of her imagination. Familiar themes fabricated within her work include anxiety, power, vanity, deceit, and degeneration. The work challenges society and culture with aims to enlighten and impact consciously or subconsciously. The artist describes having an addictive relationship with drawing. She indulges in mark-making that takes her off to another world. A fine-liner archival pen is never far from her grasp; there is simplicity in the pen medium yet it allows for a variety of possibilities. As a printmaker, she also has experience in etchings, lithography, and woodblock. No matter what the project, everything always starts with a drawing. The non-human form is a subject she is deeply involved with using as an agency to understand human society and the inner self. The animals act as a vehicle to communicate the artist’s ideas and interpret her world. The drawings have a fable-like quality to them where the work illustrates people and feelings yet the human form is rarely seen. The animal is pure and innocent; less threatening and is also more universal. Her inspirations come from society, culture, books, myths, fairy tales, and of course life itself.
Helena graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design with a BA (Honours) in Fine Art specializing in Printmaking & Contemporary Practice in 2014.
Artist CV - Exhibitions
August 2022 - Artist Of The Month, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
September 2021 - Biennial of Illustration 2021, Bratislava - supported by Culture Ireland
August 2020 - ‘20 Years of Change' - a collaboration with New York Ink Shop Printmakers & Limerick Printmakers
June 2020 - My Exquisite Portrait in association with IlIustration Ireland with Cruinniú Nóg
December 2019 - LP20, The Luan Gallery, Athlone, Westmeath
July 2019 - Artist Of The Month, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
February 2019 - LP20, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
November 2018- Limerick Printmakers Winter Show 2018, Belltable, Limerick
June 2018 - Kfest Music and Arts, 2017 Killorglin, Co.Kerry
September 2018 - Anthology, Beltable, Limerick (Solo Exhibition)
October 2017 - A Fine Line , Belltable, Limerick (Solo Exhibition)
June 2017 - Kfest Music and Arts, 2017 Killorglin, Co.Kerry
May 2017 - Uncultured, Sailors Home, Limerick
Feb ruary2017 - ABLE Artists’ books exhibition, Limerick
January 2017 - 1 FT SQ exhibition, The Clinton Centre, Enniskillen
December 2016 - Limerick Printmakers Winter Show, 2016 Belltable, Limerick
August 2016 - Twelve 2016, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
July 2016 - Cruthu Arts Festival, Longford
July 2016 - Impressions Artist Book Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
June 2016 – Kfest Music and Arts, Killorglin, Co.Kerry
February 2016 - ABLE Artists' books exhibition, Limerick
December 2015 - Limerick Printmakers Winter Show, The Hunt Museum, Limerick
November 2015 – Limerick Printmakers Open Submission 2015, Belltable Limerick
October 2015- Love Letters From Limerick, Fab Lab, Limerick
September 2015 – Hyphae, The Bourne Vincent Gallery, University of Limerick
August 2015 – Inkist, CB1 Building, O Connell St, Limerick
July 2015 – Scenes, Hibernian Court, Longford
June 2015 - KFest Music and Arts , Killorglin, Co. Kerry
May 2015 - The Coffee Festival Amsterdam, NDSM shipyard, Amsterdam
May 2015 - The Coffee Festival London, Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London
April 2015 - Plane Invasion, The Church Gallery, LSAD, Limerick
February 2015 - Twelve, Hunt Café of the Hunt Museum, Limerick
December 2014 - 1 FT SQ, The Clinton Centre, Belmore Street, Enniskillen
December 2014 - Five by Seven, Belltable, Limerick
September 2014 - Hospital Shop Window Festival, Main Street, Hospital, Co. Limerick
September 2014 - Visual Arts Open, Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen, Fermanagh
September 2014 - Emerging Artists Exhibition, Art Space, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin 8
August 2014 - 'Personal Space', Hive Emerging, 25 Michael Street, Waterford
August 2014 - Limerick’s Longford Artists, Grasshopper Boutique, Longford
July 2014 - The Katalog, CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery
May 2014 – Feral – First Light Graduate Show, LSAD, Limerick
May 2014 - All You Need Is Love, The Copper House Gallery, Dublin
April 2014 - 3rd Student International Small Print Show-SIPS 2014, El Minia University, Cairo, Egypt
October 2013 - Kildare Readers Festival | KRF:1 2013 Artist Notebook Project
August 2013 – Circulation, Black Church Print Studio, Dublin
June 2013 - International Limerick Printmakers Studio & Gallery Open Submission Print Show 2013, Sarsfield Street, Co.Limerick
April 2013 – Recollect, Raggle Taggle, Co.Limerick
April 2013 - PrintEd. Here, Church Gallery, LSAD, Co. Limerick/ Marmara University, School of Fine Arts, Istanbul, Turkey/ Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA
April 2013 - LSAD The Gathering, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare
April 2013 - Post Art, Limerick School of Art and Design
March 2013 - Work contributed to the 24-Hour Printmaking Session, Source in Thurles, Co. Tipperary
March 2013 - 2nd Student International Small Print Show-SIPS 2013, El Minia University Minia University, Cairo, Egypt
February 2013 -Limerick School of Art and Design Drawing Awards Exhibition 2013, Co. Limerick
February 2012 - Limerick International Publishers Salon (LIPS), Ormston House, Co.Limerick -
June 2012 - Galway Cat Rescue Charity Art & Photography Auction, Galway Bay Hotel, Co. Galway -
March 2012 - Limerick School of Art and Design Drawing Awards Exhibition 2012, Co. Limerick
March 2011 - Limerick School of Art and Design Drawing Awards Exhibition 2011, Co. Limerick
