BY HELEN DRYDEN
THE ART COURT
EYE ROOM
The Art Court works in the North of England to sell, source and commission art for public and private settings. We curate temporary exhibitions in stunning spaces across Yorkshire to provide a welcoming way to buy art. We work to understand your taste, space, budget and logistical considerations to search our extensive network of artists to find the perfect piece for you.
We are excited to be collaborating with Eye Room. This is the second in a series of exhibitions that the independent optician is hosting at their Scandinavian setting in Leeds City Centre. Already known for their carefully curated range of eyewear and discerning sense of style, art exhibitions further enhance a visit to Eye Room for clients and art lovers alike. The exhibition can be viewed in this online catalogue and in person.
OPENING TIMES
Mon - Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat 10am - 5pm
All welcome
Eye Room, 9 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
RENDER ME CHAOTIC
APR - JUN 2024
Delve into the captivating world of Helen Dryden’s artistic exploration as she invites you to witness the wonders of imagination set against reality in her solo exhibition, Render Me Chaotic.
Through painting she ventures into realms both familiar and fantastical, offering glimpses into the intricacies of the world we know and the boundless possibilities of those we have yet to discover.
Featuring a diverse array of artworks spanning canvas and wooden cutouts, this exhibition showcases Helen’s bold, vibrant, and expressive style. Influenced by an eclectic mix of pop culture, sci-fi, everyday domestic life, and nature, her work reflects a rich tapestry of inspirations and interests.
In her exploration of the absurdities found in both life and imagination, she presents a series of captivating scenes that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. From surreal plant-filled landscapes to eccentric characters sporting thick green beards, each artwork invites viewers to embark on a journey of curiosity and wonder.
Among the highlights of the exhibition are Do you like my rainbow leopard jumper? with loose lines and bold colours that initially looks like an abstract work before
you begin to make sense of the figure before you. Maxwell House Cappuccino and Cif Spray/Chemical World, a composition featuring a shelf of cleaning products in a shop bathed in fluorescent lighting. Through her imaginative lens, Helen transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, offering fresh perspectives on the world around us.
Helen says: “I paint where my mind takes me. It can be as far away as imagining outer space or as near as the sofa in my own home. I am always curious and like to observe, explore and imagine.”
This vivid exhibition presents the chaos and absurdity of mundane life alongside fantasy in a way where even a shelf of cleaning products begins to look slightly surreal.
Courtney Spencer
The Art Court
HELEN DRYDEN
B. 1977 MIDDLESBROUGH, UK
Helen Dryden is a painter whose artistic practice also involves curating, illustration, and photography. She is drawn to things that seem slightly strange and loves to explore how our emotions, experiences, and imagination affect our perception of reality.
Recently Helen has adopted an intuitive approach to painting, allowing the images to emerge spontaneously after periods of drawing and reflective thinking. She finds joy in the unknown, in not knowing what the final outcome will be.
Helen draws inspiration from everyday life and is influenced by science fiction, folk, horror, environmental concerns, a love of nature, pop culture, and dreams. Her latest body of work delves into
the concept of humans exploring new landscapes. At first glance, these vibrant landscapes appear cheerful and optimistic, but there is also a sense of unease that lurks beneath the surface.
“As a painter, I’ve learned to trust my instincts and let my inner self come to the surface. I have my own ideas about what is happening in the painting, and usually, it’s quite an involved story, but I don’t like to explain it as a fixed idea. I give clues with the titles, but I want the viewer to decide for themselves. I aim to create the impression of something wonderful yet unsettling happening.”
Helen Dryden
Do you like my rainbow leopard jumper?
2021
90 x 130cm
Acrylic and acrylic spray paint on canvas
£2,000
Ichabod 2023
16.5 x 21 x 4.5cm
Acrylic and acrylic ink on reclaimed wood £170
Don 2023
16.4 x 22 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood £170
RENDER ME CHAOTIC
BY HELEN DRYDENWaiting for the Brass Band 2022
40 x 30cm
Acrylic on canvas
Patrick 2023
16.6 x 21 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood
Uriah 2023
16.4 x 20.2 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood
Vinny 2023
16.6 x 20 x 4.3cm
Acrylic
Willy 2023
16.8 x 20.5 x 4.3cm
Acrylic
RENDER ME
CHAOTIC BY HELEN DRYDEN
Christopher 2023
16.5 x 21 x 4.7cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood
£170
Yuri Yuri 2023
16.6 x 21 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood
£170
2021
40 x 50cm
Acrylic, household paint and glitter on canvas £700
RENDER
Garth 2023
16.6 x 21 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood £170
Euan 2023
16.6 x 21 x 4.3cm
Acrylic on reclaimed wood
£170
RENDER
BY HELEN DRYDEN
80
Acrylic
Is the flash on? This is where ASDA used to be 2023
92 x 73cm
Acrylic on canvas
Green Anchor 2024
40 x 40cm
Acrylic on canvas
Potatoes and Friends (Things I’ll miss in space) 2023
92 x 73cm
Acrylic on canvas
£1,600
40 x 40cm
Acrylic, glitter and oil pastel on canvas
£600
Astronaut’s Allotment (1)
2022
42 x 29.7cm
Acrylic and acrylic ink on canvas £600
Astronaut’s Allotment (2)
2022
42 x 29.7cm
Acrylic and acrylic ink on canvas £600
Astronaut’s Allotment (3)
2022
42 x 29.7cm
Acrylic paint and ink on canvas £600
How many sunrises and sunsets
2022
80 x 60cm
Acrylic on canvas
£1,000
The exhibition is also available to view in person at Eye Room.
OPENING TIMES
Mon - Fri, 10am - 6pm Sat 10am - 5pm
All welcome
Eye Room, 9 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
If you would like further information about any of the artworks or our personal art shopping service our contact details are below and we would be delighted to assist you.
+44 (0)77 8618 1968
CURATOR@THEARTCOURT.CO.UK
WWW.THEARTCOURT.CO.UK