We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Helen Wilde a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Helen, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have always been creative, even from an early age. Reading old school reports it’s quite clear I was always destined for a career in the creative arts and I was lucky that a couple of teachers recognised this and continued to push me in that direction. I completed my foundation art courses at Doncaster College of Art over the period of 2 years, then another 3 years were spent at Nottingham Trent University within a Bachelor of Honours degree, Decorative Arts. This course specialised in traditional slow craft and that reflects in what I do today – there’s no speed involved, no fast process -a craft that takes time to learn and can only be learnt through taking the time.

The most essentials skills really were patience, I believe everything can be learnt, yes some are naturally more capable but having the patience to study something and practice, practice, practice is a essential skill – in life too!

Time is always the obstacle, if only we had more hours in the day.

Helen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Multi -Disciplinary artist, which in layman’s terms means I create using a variety of mediums, from paper to canvas and clay but all with an element of embroidery. After my graduation I was very lucky to find myself in the employment of a wonderful designer that not only gave me a Job but also inspired and encouraged me as a person and my skill set. I will be forever grateful to Daniel Hanson and he is truly missed,

I spent many years working freelance within the design and art gallery world but it wasn’t until I was gifted a vintage set of embroidery silks that I started to create my own work again. Over the years this has developed into a full time career under the studio name ‘Ovo Bloom’. I have been internationally published within many design specific magazines (Elle Decoration magazine can be quoted as saying I am a leader within my industry), exhibit yearly (USA, UK & Japan) and my work hangs in many homes worldwide including some very exciting celebrities that I’m not allowed to talk about!

My work reflects the natural world whilst remaining firmly in the realm of imagination, using texture and colour to produce a plethora of wildlife & botanical landscapes that are constantly evolving like nature itself.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

13 years ago I was diagnosed with and had some pretty serious Cancer related surgery, Having being given a sense of my own mortality I very much grasp what I can, do everything, try everything and love doing what I do. Life is short, don’t waste it doing something you don’t like.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

From the very beginning I knew how I would approach social media – by being ME. I don’t try to be something I’m not, I don’t follow trends I created my own path and I’ve stayed on it, finding people along the way that I’ve invited to be part of my own journey and them the same, The saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” rings very true with social media. Make friends, be kind, supportive and honest, you’ll attract the same.

If you love what you do, people will see that and be drawn to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ovobloom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ovobloom

Image Credits
Annie Greatorex