Helen O’Sullivan-Tyrrell

Helen O’Sullivan-Tyrrell is an Irish artist living in Belgium since 1995. She studied architecture in Dublin, and following a varied career path in European Affairs has finally settled down to do what she loves. She now works as a full-time artist and graphic designer. She lives in the Flemish village of Tervuren on the outskirts of Brussels with her husband and two children.

Helen draws on her surroundings for inspiration. The flatness and serenity of the Flemish landscape provides an interesting contrast to the mountains of Wicklow and the seascapes of the East coast of Ireland where she grew up.

Helen uses various media in her work, mainly acrylic paint, and sometimes a mix of oil and acrylic. Her work is generally figurative and includes many animal portraits – particularly cows for their human-like expressions, and hens for their dynamism and colour.

“As an Irish artist living abroad, I am always drawn back to the elemental aspects of Ireland; the land, sea, and light. In my landscapes I try to capture a sense of place, rather than accurate representations of precise locations. As I am not physically present in – but ‘uprooted’ from - the land that inspires me, these paintings become imaginary landscapes, reflecting more about one’s sense of belonging.”