Helen Clapcott | View All Artworks

  • Helen Clapcott is a renowned British artist known for her striking and detailed paintings, which capture the unique landscapes and urban scenes of Northern England. Her work often focuses on the industrial heritage of towns such as Stockport, portraying dramatic skies, intricate architecture, and a deep sense of nostalgia.

    Using a distinctive palette and precise technique, Clapcott brings to life the character and atmosphere of these locations, blending realism with an almost dreamlike quality. Her paintings offer a fascinating glimpse into the ever-changing face of the British landscape, making them a compelling addition to any collection. This category showcases a selection of her finest works, celebrating her exceptional ability to transform everyday scenes into captivating pieces of art.

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    Born in Blackpool in 1952, Helen Clapcott moved to Stockport with her family when she was 10 and her first glimpses of the Mersey Valley were love at first sight. It is a subject which has dominated her work ever since. For 40 years she has produced a series of subtle, haunting paintings of by-gone Stockport. She studied Fine Art at Liverpool Art College and The Royal Academy Schools and is one of a very few modern artists working in tempera — egg-based emulsion painted on small to medium sized panels prepared with gesso, a smooth surface like plaster of Paris. This technique, favoured by centuries of artists from ancient times until the 15th century, means she can erase scenes and re-work them in the cause of perfection. She made her first tempera painting of Stockport in 1974.

    Every painting starts off with meticulous drawings in her sketchbook and she is still painting from scenes originally drawn in the 1980's when many iconic Stockport buildings began to be demolished. Her paintings capture now-disappeared iconic landmarks and take many months to complete due her meticulous attention to detail. She is now represented by a major London Gallery and Stockport Art Gallery have recently bought several of her paintings.

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    Born in 1952 in Blackpool Helen studied at Liverpool College of Art before attending the Royal Academy School in London. Helen returned to Stockport in 1984 where her artistic journey took shape. Throughout her career, Helen has focused on painting the town she grew up in - her beloved Stockport. Known for its iconic railway viaduct, Stockport was once the heart of the hat making industry and home to a thriving cotton and spinning trade in its many mills. Helen's work is characterised by the dramatic light she captures, casting long intricate shadows across her detailed subjects. Whilst Helen often portrays iconic landmarks she also paints everyday scenes that make up the fabric of life in her hometown. From motorways to mills, industrial yards to buildings under construction or demolition, nothing escapes Helen's meticulous compositions capturing the essence of Stockport past and present.

    Helen paints primarily on small and medium sized panels although she has on occasion worked on a much larger scale. Helen begins her paintings directly on the gesso ground, without any preliminary drawing. Each image of Stockport is constructed in the studio using sketches made on location, from memory and her extensive knowledge of the area, which was gained from her many walks combined with occasional touches of imagination when necessary. Photographs are used strictly as references to check details like, the positioning of one building to another or the construction details. Each painting is crafted as an artwork rather than a photographic representation of the place. Consequently Helen edits the visual elements, sometimes omitting or adding details to create the perfect composition. For example her long shadows suggest late afternoon and enhance patterns within the scene. While Helen occasionally invents, or re-interprets elements to complete her composition, her work remains grounded in the observable world.

    Helen is a painter whose work is deeply pre-occupied with themes of destruction & regeneration, particularly within the context of the landscape of her native Stockport. Her works focus on the transformation of the region, reflecting the ongoing evolution of what was once Stockport's industrial valley. This area, once a bustling hub of industry, is now increasingly characterised by its role as a commuter corridor, a symbol of modern urban growth and suburban expansion. Through her paintings Helen captures the transitions between the old and the new, where the remnants of the town's industrial heritage co-exist with the emerging townscapes defined by rapid development. These transformations are more than just environmental changes; they portray how human intervention and industrial progress shape the landscape. Her art invites viewers to consider how the landscape evolves in response to economic, social and cultural forces ,giving the viewers a moment to think about the enduring impact of these forces, on not only the land but the town's inhabitants.

    While Clapcott is not widely known for participating in art competitions, she has received significant recognition for her work. She has exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy of Arts and has gained a dedicated following among collectors and art enthusiasts. Her detailed and atmospheric style has earned her critical acclaim, particularly for her ability to document the changing landscapes of Northern England with such precision and emotional depth. Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery hosted a retrospective exhibition "A Portrait of Stockport" 28/9/24 - 25/1/25. A book about Helen's painting career was published by Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd and was written by the acclaimed writer and art critic Andrew Lambirth, who has regularly written for The Spectator, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times and the Royal Academy magazine to name a few. The book titled " In The Light Of The Buildings " was released in September 25 and is available from leading bookshops.

    Helen Clapcott studied at the Royal Academy Schools in London, one of the most prestigious art institutions in the UK. Her time there helped refine her skills in traditional painting techniques, particularly egg tempera. Before that, she studied at Liverpool School of Art, where she developed an early interest in landscapes and urban scenes. Her academic training provided her with a strong foundation, allowing her to develop her distinctive approach to depicting the Northern English landscape.

    Helen Clapcott primarily works with egg tempera, a traditional painting method that involves mixing pigment with egg yolk to create a durable and luminous finish. This technique allows for intricate detailing and subtle layering of colour. Egg tempera was widely used by Renaissance painters and requires precision and patience. Clapcott’s mastery of this medium contributes to the distinctive quality of her paintings, giving them a rich texture and a timeless feel that enhances the depth and atmosphere of her landscapes.