Artist Statement

Creating art has always been more than just painting for me, it’s an act of reflection, healing, and meditation. My recent work explores the intersection of faith, nature, and inner stillness through abstraction and texture. Rather than depicting detail, I focus on form, tone, and material to evoke emotion and contemplation.

Grounded in my Islamic faith, each piece is created with intention. The layered surfaces and deliberate marks are acts of remembrance, an offering to honour the sacredness of the natural world and the unseen presence within it.

I’m drawn to muted, earthy palettes and textured, minimal compositions that invite slowness. My process is meditative: applying, scraping back, and reworking layers of oil and wax to create depth that feels both raw and serene. Inspired by landscapes, skies, florals and quiet valleys, my work aims to hold space for stillness in a world that often feels overwhelming.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” — Rumi

I hope my paintings offer moments of pause and reconnection, a chance to breathe deeply, reflect, and find peace.

With love and gratitude always, Helina

Artist Bio

Helina Ekanem is a British artist, born in London and raised in West Yorkshire, with Nigerian and White British heritage. Her love for drawing and painting began early and evolved alongside a deep connection to nature, identity, and spirituality. After briefly studying art in Leeds, Helina moved into roles supporting the charity and creative sectors, working with organisations such as Arts Council England, Yorkshire Contemporary, Impact Hub Bradford and Leeds Community Foundation.

In 2020, she launched her freelance career through Etsy, creating illustrations that celebrate Black and Brown women and peaceful, nature-inspired scenes. Her travels across Europe and the Caribbean helped shape her artistic voice. After going through a personal loss, Helina found healing through marathon running, fundraising and advocacy for grief and mental health issues; experiences that continue to inform the emotional and spiritual depth of her work. Her art serves as both sanctuary and expression, offering moments of stillness in a fast-paced world.

In 2024, Helina embraced Islam, an enlighting experience that deepened her connection to faith, nature and gave her hope. This shift inspired her focus towards plein de air painting and working with a muted colour palette culminating in her 2025 debut series Flowers of Faith and Sky at Salah South Square Art Centre in Bradford.
She now lives in Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England, creating work rooted in peace, presence, and remembrance.

studiohelina.contact@gmail.com