About the Artist

Helen focuses on the small and often unnoticed elements of our surroundings, called ‘flickers’, inviting them to be viewed anew by prompting a slower pace of looking.
Helen graduated from Intermedia Art at Edinburgh College of Art and has a master’s in Participatory Arts from Queen Margaret University. Alongside her visual art practice, Helen is a Social Practice Artist who interrogates the artist’s role within cultural engagement, challenges social hierarchies and barriers to accessing the arts.

Biography
Lives and works in Edinburgh, UK
2021 - 22 MA Applied Arts and Social Practice, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK (Distinction)
2012 -15 Intermedia Art (BA Hons), Edinburgh College of Art, UK

Participatory Projects
Paving the Way: An exploration of female walking through sonic art practice, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, (2022) MA Thesis
Craigmillar NOW, WiSER Project: Oral Histories Project, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (2022)
North Edinburgh Arts Festival with Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (2021-22)
Best In Show, Moray House School of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh (2016)
Untitled: Nation//Live, Scottish National Gallery (2014)
Adopt an Artist: Running with Scissors, Scottish National Gallery (2014)
Foul Play, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh (2014)

Solo Exhibitions
Helen Leigh at Pig Rock Both, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh. (2016)

Selected Group Exhibitions‍ ‍
Shift & Flow, Dook - Art Walk Weekends, Edinburgh (2026)
Reverse Rituals, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh (2018)
Simply Beaming, Embassy Gallery and RAT HOLE GALLEY, Maruseppu Art Residency (MAR), Japan, Toyko (2018)
Technically Speaking II, Tent Gallery, Edinburgh (2017)
I Think This Film Is About You, Bongo, Edinburgh (2015)
Square Egg, Whitespace, Edinburgh (2015)
UPLAND Camp 21, Cultybragan Camp, Comrie, Perthshire (2014)

Awards
2015, John Watson Prize Winner 2015, Edinburgh, UK

Awarded Residencies  
Pig Rock Bothy, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (2015)
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Talks‍
‘Paving The Way’, Artist Researcher Talk, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (2023)
‘Rec.’ Artist Talk, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh (2016)