Helen Tabor is a contemporary Scottish painter living and
working in the Scottish Borders, renowned for her textured, expressive
oil paintings. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes, seascapes, and shores
of southern Scotland, as well as her travels to Italy and the Himalayas, her
work explores colour, texture, and atmosphere.
Her practice begins with a collage base that adds depth and
pattern to the surface. Using large brushes, palette knives, and sometimes
printing rollers, Helen applies paint boldly and then refines the image,
allowing the interaction between paint and underlayers to guide the
composition. This method gives her paintings a rich, shimmering texture and a
dynamic energy that draws viewers in.
Helen’s work spans landscapes, seascapes, still life, and
figures, combining expressive brushwork with fine detail. While her landscapes
and seascapes reflect emotional responses to the world around her, her figure
paintings explore narrative and domestic themes, often inspired by family life.
Born in Middlesex in 1960, Helen studied English and History
at York University and spent several years teaching in the Himalayas before
settling in Scotland in 1995. She became a full-time freelance artist in 1997
and has exhibited widely across the UK ever since.
Helen’s paintings capture both mood and movement, combining
vibrant colour, texture, and layered techniques to create work that is alive,
atmospheric, and uniquely her own.
Artists