Self taught artist,  Helen Norton settled in Broome WA in 1985 after 10 years of travelling and working in the Western Deserts in the most remote areas of the Australian outback. At 16 years she left Melbourne alone on a train to Adelaide having no idea or plan of what turned into a lengthy and unusual sojourn. Beginning on the Nullarbor plains at a remote roadhouse, she was soon to become a professional feral animal shooter and trapper, stock camp cook, jillaroo, station hand, bronco yard builder and truck driver as well as a stint working in a geriatric psychiatric hospital as a nursing aid. These adventures weaved her path endlessly and consistently through the Gibson, the Great Sandy, the Simpson and Sturt’s Stony deserts for those years. At 26 she settled (slightly) for the next 14 years in Broome and developed her own well-known style and essence as an artist while continuing to engage with ‘other projects’. She broadened her travels through commissions to Europe and the USA where she nurtured her curiosity and enquiry into the nature of human essence and behaviour regardless of and because of culture. In between venturing closer to home into the more remote Kimberley and Pilbara regions. Here she was inspired by the archetypal and timeless sacredness of the landscape and became aware of curiously felt premonitions of significance in areas later found to be sacred Aboriginal sites, that seemed to not need to be named to be felt and instinctively known. Much was learned through observing the tenacity, independence and eccentricity of the people within these remote, but basic and material luxury poor locations, which had a richness of experience however that surpassed poverty of ‘things’.  Leaving Australia in 2000, she become an expatriate resident in Vanuatu for 3 years, which led to more cross cultural layering of understanding. She moved to her farm in Queensland in 2003 where she was based while she completed her Masters Degree in Jungian Depth Psychology at UWS in Sydney before moving to Fremantle West Australia with her two sons in 2006.  Her obvious love of the outback and her curiosity around the human condition is brilliantly captured in her internationally acclaimed work.  Norton’s work smacks of deep psychological questioning. Her obvious interest in this field comes through as a constant challenge to the viewer to look deeper than the first sensing impression.  The works are always “good to look at”, with an emphasis on seduction of the senses.  Perhaps this seduction with beauty assists the overcoming of defences towards the imagery allowing some of the very complex alchemical messages layered through the work to become available should one wish to engage on that level. Norton feels that its up to the viewer as to how much they wish to get out of her imagery. She sees her role does hold more responsibility than to just serve her own ego in a narcissistic way as a ‘keeper of magical mysteries’ which can’t be shared with others at their own subjective levels of preference and perception. She is not particularly an ‘artisan’ or interested in art for arts sake and prefers to think of it as a tool or medium for assisting herself and others to find more meaningful and creative the trials and tribulations of the journey of life.  She has often preferred herself as a writer or poet by nature, and does not sit comfortably with the limiting title as an ‘artist’.  “The reason I have painted is that it has been a negotiating medium for my frustrations and exploding imagination in expressing my feelings, which are often too complex and copious for the word to negotiate.  Painting has allowed me to become an inventor or eternal explorer of reality, and has validated my right to exist as what I am in essence, which has no name. A wonderful tool to permit the spewing forth and then capturing of the otherwise not containable irrational mania through a disciplined form of expression.  I have been fortunate to have found a stream, or outlet valve for this elusive dark place in my own mind to find light and existence in the conscious world, thus saving myself from madness and self-destruction.  As the quantity of this substance inside me is greater than the capacity of my sane self and I could not hold it in, it must be released without causing harm to myself or others.” Solo Exhibitions: 2009 Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney (March) 2008 Linton Kay Gallery, Perth "Now and Then" 2008 Monsoon Gallery, Broome 2007 Fremantle Yacht Club - continuation of "South" 2007 Yallingup Galleries WA – "South" 2006 Cockatoo Gallery Broome, “Obon – The Soul of Broome”, Sept, 30 new works. 2005 Cockatoo Gallery Studio, Fremantle, Extension of “Courage to Love” Sept, 34 new works added 2005 Michael Commerford Gallery, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. “Courage to Love” March 2004 Opening of Cockatoo Gallery Fremantle (Artists own gallery) 2003 Michael Commerford Gallery, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. “The Red Seahorse” 2003 Greenhill Galleries, Perth, WA. 2002 56 Major works in ‘The Angels Heart and the Snake’, Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington, NSW. 2001 70 Major works in ‘Looking for Gods’ with Telethon in Perth, Highett Regency. 2001 Preview of ‘Looking for Gods’, Port Vila, Vanuatu. 2000 ‘Bye Bye Sunfly and the Auditor in Loophole Land’, Sydney, The Rocks. 1999 ‘The Second Test’, The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne. 1998 Margaret River Gallery, Margaret River, WA. 1998 Greenhill Gallery, Adelaide. 1998 The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne. 1998 New Collectables Gallery, East Fremantle. 1998 Monsoon Gallery, Broome, Western Australia. 1998 Margaret River Gallery, WA. 1998 LLewellyn Alexander Gallery, Waterloo, London, UK. 1997 Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney. 1997 Pastoralists and Graziers Association Conference, Cable Beach Club, Broome. 1997 On board QE2, guest artist sailing with cruise related works from Sydney to Darwin. 1996 ‘Mad Cows’, Framed Gallery, Darwin. 1995 New Collectables, East Fremantle, WA. 1995 Arthouse, Paddington, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, NSW. 1995 Recent works, Durack Gallery, Broome WA. 1994 Arthouse, Paddington, Sydney. 1994 ‘Wings and Wire’ Royal Flying Doctors, Cable Beach Club, Broome, WA. 1993 ‘Heroes’ New Collectables Gallery, Fremantle, WA. 1993 Reflections of the Kimberley, Derby (Changing faces of the Kimberley) WA. 1992 Kimberley Fine Diamonds, WA. 1992 ‘Beasts and Beauties’, Framed Art Gallery, Darwin, NT. 1992 Kimberley Kreations Gallery, Broome, WA. 1991 Kimberley Kreations Gallery, Broome, WA. 1991 Royal Fly Doc, Perth Mint 60 works (Pidgeon series), WA. 1990 Kimberley Kreations Gallery, Broome, WA. 1988 Broome Regional Art Gallery, WA. Group and Joint Exhibitions: 2000 The Art of Saving Lives (Youth Suicide), Sothebys, Armadale, VIC. 1999 Guide Dogs for the Blind, Perth, WA. 1999 Art Extrordinare, Bunbury. 1998 ‘Not the Royal Academy’ Exhibition, Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London, UK. 1997 New Collectables, East Fremantle, WA. 1997 Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne, VIC. 1997 Cummerford Gallery, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, NSW. 1996 Arthritis Foundation of WA, Wyllie Arthritis Centre, Shenton Park, WA. 1996 The Rotary Arts Foundation Exhibition, Civic Centre, Port Hedland, WA. 1996 Mandorla Art Awards, The Moores Building, Fremantle, WA. 1996 Brunswick Agricultural Society Inc, Brunswick, WA. 1996 Hale Art Exhibition, Hale School, Wembley Downs, WA. 1996 The Michael Commerford Gallery, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, NSW. 1996 New Collectables Gallery, East Fremantle, WA (FAB, Group Exhibition, Breast Cancer). 1996 New Collectables Gallery, East Fremantle, WA. 1996 Durack Gallery, Broome, WA (Fringe Arts Festival). 1995 ‘Putting Ourselves in the Picture’, Durack Gallery, Broome, WA. 1995 ‘Ebb and Flow of the Kimberley’, Monsoon Gallery, Broome, WA. 1994 ‘Women of The West Exhibition’, Sydney, NSW. 1994 ‘Women’s Suffrage Centenary Exhibition’, Adelaide Central Gallery. 1994 Vail, Colorado, USA. 1994 Opened artist’s studio/ gallery in Mc Daniel rd Broome, WA. 1994 Port Hedland Tourist Commission, (Heritage Week Exhibition), WA. 1994 ‘New Etchings and Collographs’, Arthouse, Paddington, Sydney, NSW. 1994 ‘New Etchings and Collographs’, Monsoon Gallery, Broome, WA. 1994 Arthritis Foundation of WA, Perth, WA. 1994 ‘New Etchings and Collographs’, New Collectables Gallery, Fremantle, WA. 1994 ‘New Etchings and Collographs’, Kimberley Kreations, WA. 1994 Greythorn Gallery, Toorak, VIC. 1993 Durack Gallery, Broome (Mango Festival), WA. 1993 SECWA Fremantle City Council Art Award, Fremantle, WA. 1993 Kimberley Kreations 5th Birthday Exhibition, Broome, WA. 1993 ‘Postcards from Paradise’, Shekki Shed Gallery, Broome, WA. 1993 ‘L´ Amour Fou’, Shekki Shed Gallery, Broome, WA. 1992 Arthritis Foundation of WA, Perth, WA. 1992 Scotts College, Adelaide Arts Festival, SA. 1991 ‘The Professions’, Bay Gallery, Perth, WA. 1990 Bay Gallery, Perth, WA. 1990 42 Weld St. Gallery, WA. 1989 Broome Regional Art Gallery, WA. Awards: 1999 Brunswick Agricultural Society, Sponsors choice/Hero. 1996 Brunswick Agricultural Society, 1st Prize Westraliana/ Animals Study. 1996 Kimberley Art Prize, Derby, Highly commended, Printmaking. 1995 Kimberley Art Prize, Derby, 1st Prize Printmaking. 1993 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Oil/Acrylic. 1992 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Watercolour. 1992 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, Overall Major Aquisitive Award. 1992 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Sculpture. 1991 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, Phyllis Knox Memorial Award. 1991 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, Literature Award. 1991 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Oil/Acrylic 1991 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, Peoples Choice. 1991 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, 1st Prize Acrylic. 1991 Bay Gallery Professions Art Prize, 1st Prize in Section. 1990 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Portrait. 1990 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Acrylic. 1990 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, 1st Prize Oil. 1990 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, People’s Choice. 1990 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, Major Award, Aquis to Parliament House. 1990 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, Major Award, Aquis Mt Newman Mining. 1990 Kimberley Art Prize, Derby, 1st Prize Watercolour. 1989 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, Highly Commended. 1988 Rotary National Art Prize, Pt Hedland, Best Local Work. 1988 Shinju Matsuri Award, Broome, Encouragement Award. 1988 Kimberley Art Prize, Derby, 1st Prize Oil. Bibliography: 2005 Insite magazine - (winter) “What Lies Beneath”, Sarah Szabo. 2002 Front covers Pinnacles Tours - All tour guides. 2002 Wentworth Courier. 2002 Sydney Morning Herald. 2001 J S Battye Library of West Aust History - Published by H Norton - "Revolution is Slow". 2001 J S Battye Library of West Aust History - Published by H Norton -"The Angel and the Butterfly Man". 2001 Weekend Magazine, Perth. 2001 Sunday Times, Perth. 2001 Trading Post, Vanuatu. 2000 Homes and Living. 2000 Magazine - Andrea Horwood. 2000 Artists Chronicle. 1999 Sunday Herald Sun, October 10, The Penguin, Graham Pearce, Colourful Saviours. 1999 State of the Arts, May-August, Texture of my World, Helen Norton, Jane Sloane. 1999 London Artists and Illustrators, magazine, January, The Royal Subject, Kate Nicolas. 1998 Sunday Times, December 27, Life Arts, Brush with reality, Sam Hardcastle. 1998 The West Magazine, December 26, West Coast Arts, Sarah Palmer, Paintings. 1998 The West Australian, December 18, artstoday, Galleries. 1998 AMR Mail, December 16, Entertainment, Norton´s report on view at Margaret River Art Gallery. 1998 Herald Sun, October 5, Arts & Entertainment, Report card rates Norton, Tracey Joynson. 1998 Sunday Herald Sun, October 11,The Penguin, Graham Pearce, Brush with Marriage. 1998 Broome Advertiser, August 26, Art Reflects Broome´s Simplicity, Monsoon Gallery Exhibition. 1998 London OK magazine, January 1998 Helen Norton. 1996 Qantas In-flight Magazine front cover Dec 1996 (The Birthday Piano). 1996 Qantas Club Mag front cover, Nov 1996 (The Captain´s Table). 1996 NT News, August, Mad Cows. 1996 Broome Advertiser, August, Moving Art, Kath Bothwick. 1996 Front cover "NOVA" magazine, Perth. Image "Trust me". 1996 Broome Tourist Bureau, Discover Broome booklet and map, front covers. 1996 McCafferty´s Travel time mag, front cover, "Cooking Catch", article " The Wild Kimberley". 1995 West Australian, Nov 18, review ‘Once Upon A time There was a Man’, David Bromfield. 1995 Australian Short Stories, Dec, Front Cover Image. "Nude With Dog". 1995 Western Review, Nov, Front Cover Image. "Newsman". 1995 Australian Style, Nov, " Outward Bound", Steve Bunk. 1995 Australian Country Style, Nov, "State of the Arts", Vera Klein. 1995 Broome Advertiser, July, Durack Exhibition. 1994 State of the Art, Sept-Dec, New Broome. 1994 West Australian, April 25, ‘Artist Finds Fame Painting Outback’, Grahame Armstrong. 1994 Local Colour, Bill Bachman and Tim Winton "Blood FromStone" 1994 The Bulletin, Sept 6. Charles Boag, 1 page ´Arts´ "Appearances Deceive" 1994 Broome Advertiser, Doctor (RFDS) to benefit from local artists exhibition, Maria Mann. 1994 Summer Shorts, Peter and Barbara Holland, Fremantle Art Press, "The Other Woman”. 1993 Summer shorts, Peter Holland, Fremantle Arts Press, "Introduced Species”. 1993 Australian Short Stories, Pascoe Publishing, Cover Image "HMS Pioneer". 1993 The West Australian, 11 Dec, ‘Tongue in Cheek Look at Bush Myths, David Bromfield. 1993 Fremantle Arts, November, Norton’s Heroes, by Jonathan Smith. 1993 Arts Unlimited, November, ‘Who is the hero?’ By Linda Hodgetts. 1993 Australia Style, December, The Big Picture, by Steve Bunk, 9 page article on artist. 1993 HQ Magazine, ‘Brushes with Women’, Bruce Pascoe. 1992 W. A Style, ‘Soul Trading’ by Renita Glencross, 4 page article on artist. 1992 West Australian, Aug 15, On Show, David Bromfield. 1992 Northern Territory News, April 25, ‘Artist Brings Bush To Life’, Marney White. 1992 North West Telegraph, Sept, ‘Exhibition recalls issues of early contact period’. 1991 North West Telegraph, Dec, ‘Local Artists Work Discovered’, Maria Mann 1991 North West Telegraph, Sept, ‘Renowned Artist Holds Exhibition’. 1991 Artists Chronicle, December, ‘Paintings and Pearls of Kimberley’,Lyn DiCiero. Collections: Hamersley Iron B.H.P. Western Metals Paspaley Pearling Co Pty Ltd McDonalds - Indooripilly Qld Broome Shire Regional Council West Australian Parliament House Austrian Consulate General Property Bank Australia Perth Mint Qantas Hong Kong Bank of Australia Lands Department Perth RAC Adelaide Arrow Pearls Clipper Pearls Northstar Charters Paspaley Pearls Private collections in US, UK, Asia and Germany BIOGRAPHY – Helen Norton 1961 Born Helen Joy Rodwell, St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC 1976 Left Home 1976 Worked in knitting factory, worked as a cleaner, housemaid and service station attendant while trying to pay own way through school. 1977 Left Melbourne and travelled alone to Adelaide to look for outback work. 1978 Worked on Nullabour Plains as a cook. 1979 Introduced to the spoggy shooters and the "Feral animal hunters", trapped and shot feral rabbits, cats and foxes for a living for the next 3 years, learnt and, mastered the skinning of foxes and 6000 ways to trap and cook a rabbit. Professional whiting and shark fishing off the Ceduna coast. 1980 Moved to Kulgera on the Northern Territory border with SA , rabbit shooting camps. 1981 Moved to Anna ck station in the Simpson desert for rabbit and fox shooting. Building suspension stockyards and fences with partner on Anna ck station. 1982 Worked for out-station, Stuart’s ck, Simpson desert as cook, jillaroo and station-hand. 1983 Worked for Anna ck station as main cook, camp cook and jillaroo. 1984 Travelled alone to Katherine, NT. Worked as 2nd chef and Pizza cook. Didn´t like town life and took job as barmaid, cook at Mataranka hotel. Started painting again for the first time since leaving school. 1984 Dalby in Queensland. Drove cattle trucks for a short while before doing 6 months as a nurses aid at the local geriatric psychiatric hospital home. Went back to Melb, for short period, then lived in Port Wakefield, SA 6 months. Travelled to NT then onto NorthWest, Met husband whilst working at Sandfire in Great Sandy desert. Expeditions to the Lost river and the Eighty Mile Beach.   Painting part time. 1985 Moved to Broome with Tony. Started personal art studies at home in between part and 1986 full time work. 1987 Married to Tony Norton in Broome, Painting . 1988 First Solo Exhibition with Broome Regional Art Gallery. 1989 Painting and Personal arts study 1990 Painting and Personal arts study 1991 Kimberley Expedition (travelled through the Kimberley’s and the Bungles.) Collected material and inspiration for the Pidgeon series. 1991 Help to raise $2000 for the Royal Flying Doctor by way of exhibition with Perth Mint. 1992 Kakadu Expedition (travel through parts of Kakadu NT) 1992 Pilbara Expedition (travelled through Pilbara staying in Wittenoom as base) 1993 1st Son born in Broome. 1994 Raised $4000 for the Royal Flying Doctor by way of exhibition at Cable Beach Club, Broome 1995 Opened artists studio gallery in Broome 1995 2nd Son born in Broome. 1995 Worked on the New World order series 1996 Extensions to studio, workshop, Broome 1996 Qantas commission leading to Transatlantic crossing on the QE2 to gather material. 1997 Held art exhibition of QE2 related works on board the floating city on its Sydney-Darwin leg of its 1997 world cruise. 1998 Divorced 1998 First solo in London. Trip to Europe (Paris, Amsterdam, Brugge, and London) research. 1998 Purchased Earthmoving business. 1999 St James Ethic Centre included poem in newsletter - Sydney 1999 St Michaels Uniting Church Melbourne - Dr Francis McNab -poetry reading Oct 17 1999 Opened Cockatoo Gallery in Chinatown Broome. 2000 Norton Leaves Australia to reside in Vanuatu 2002 Taken up part time formal studies into Psychology, (emphasis on Jungian analytical), completed MBTI typology accreditation and further studies in the various ‘natures’ of humanity. 2003  Norton returns to QLD Australia to live on her small farm in the Blackall ranges. 2003  Enters 2 year Jungian Analysis with Dr Andre De Koning to develop depth process of self. 2004  Masters Degree in Jungian Analytical Psychology 2005 Completed Masters Degree in Jungian Analytical Psychology UWA 2006 Moved back to WA. Opened new studio at Fremantle, West Australia.