Experience

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  Helen Anderson Designs

  • Artist/Designer

    • 2000 - Present

    The Millennium marked my return to fine art and, in particular, to portraits, although I also love landscape and decorative paintings. In 2012, I received a significant commission from a prominent Chester business group to paint Queen Elizabeth II in oils, in the year of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. Naturally, with my fashion background, I couldn't resist designing a beautiful new guipure lace gown for her portrait. Check my instagram and website for images. I still love fashion and launch myself into a new project from time to time, including costume and interior design, which are all about the shareworthy details. I am often invited frequently to speak at events about Liverpool: my art college days, my friendship with The Beatles and the electric atmosphere of the Swinging Sixties . This is terrific fun, keeps my memory sharp and brings me into contact with an exciting new generation of creative talent and music fans.

  • Fashion Designer

    • 1980 - 2000

    In 1980 I opened a small factory and scaled up the business to produce two semi-couture collections per year. We sold our glamorous evening and special occasion-wear (usually with a matching hat or headpiece) all over the world and especially in the UK, US and Middle East. My dresses were often seen on TV shows (including Dynasty, my favourite) and worn by celebrities. From 1991 I operated a smaller business based near my new home in Cheshire, returning once again to crafting lovely hand-painted pieces inspired by my travels and by classical art.

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  Helen Anderson

  • Liverpool, United Kingdom

  • Fashion Designer

    • 1975 - 1980
    • Liverpool, United Kingdom

    I missed the upmarket finesse of couture so, inspired by my experience in Italy, I set up a new company, designing luxurious hand-painted evening and bridal wear. In a very romantic era for fashion, the magical Liberty of London store was my first stockist, swiftly followed by many upmarket bouti...

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  Contessa (Lingerie & Leisurewear)

  • New York

  • Freelance Fashion Designer

    • 1972 - 1975
    • New York

    In 1972, I was "discovered" in Bloomingdale's whilst wearing a hand applique T-shirt (featuring an owl perched on a moonlit tree) and turquoise suede hotpants, both of my own design. A friendly guy bounded over, asking "Where did you buy what you're wearing? We want it for ...

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  Self Employed

  • Brussels Area, Belgium

  • Freelance Fashion Designer

    • 1967 - 1972
    • Brussels Area, Belgium

    My first marriage took me to Brussels where my baby daughter inspired a range of hand-embellished leather childrenswear for upmarket kids' retailer Dujardin. I also collaborated with leather manufacturers on several special projects. The most extraordinary commission was to create a set of...

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  Helen Anderson: Couture Suede & Leather Design

  • Liverpool

  • Owner / Fashion Designer

    • 1962 - 1967
    • Liverpool

    My home town of Liverpool suddenly rose like a phoenix from the post-war ashes, thanks largely to The Beatles. A surge of creativity was turning the town into a Swinging City and, whilst the acronym F.O.M.O. (“fear of missing out”) hadn’t yet been coined yet, it only took one call from Cynthia L...

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  Freelance Artist/Painter

  • Rome Area, Italy

  • Portrait Painter

    • Feb 1961 - Sep 1962
    • Rome Area, Italy

    I moved to Rome as a post-graduate student at the Accademia di Belle Arti. In theory. I actually spent most of my time painting portraits of local dignitaries, celebrities, aristocrats and their chidren, commissioned after I hung an example in a local art supply shop on Via Frattina. The most sig...