About & Contact

Kia Ora! Welcome to my store.

My name is Helen, but I sometimes go by the name Heldog.

I live in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, the heart of one of New Zealand’s wine regions at the top of the South Island. It’s a beautiful valley surrounded by vineyards, mountains and of course, the mighty Wairau River. It's a braided river that flows from the Northern Southern Alp ranges to the Pacific Ocean.

Anyway my inspiration to paint comes mostly from the birds that visit my backyard. There’s a wealth of both native and the introduced birds I call 'The Colonials'. They wake me most mornings and I actually cannot think of a better way to start the day.

Music also is also an inspiration and I have to admit I am a bit partial to the music of the 60’s and 70’s. And in the words of Leonard Cohen:

“Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir,
I have tried in my way to be free”

And that's exactly what try to do – find a freedom through my art.

I started my artistic career when Lux (my husband) over ordered some paint for our house upgrade and I decided to use the excess on a piece of canvas we had lying around. That painting actually turned out quite well and with much encouragement I have painted many more paintings.

These days, I work on large, stretched canvases with acrylic paints, pouring my heart (and a fair bit of paint) into each piece.

Then, I print the image on an archival 100 % cotton velvet fine art paper and I hand sign in pencil. And these are the prints for you to enjoy in your own home!

I hope my art brings a smile to your face and a bit of Kiwi quirkiness to your walls.

I am so very grateful you have visited my store. Ngā Mihi Nui (many thanks). 

Cheers,

HELDOG xoxoxo