Mainly known for her decorative watercolour and collage illustration, Helen Cann's designs have been used both for adults and children in fiction, gift and education publishing. She also has a growing market for her acrylic on cardboard work.

Born in Bristol, UK, Helen studied Visual Art at the University of Wales. Her first published work was a series of greetings cards, followed by some gift books and finally a full colour anthology of folk stories – “Mother and Daughter Tales” for Barefoot Books.

The anthology of folk stories turned into a quartet of anthologies which sold successfully worldwide. Since then she has illustrated numerous children's books, including “The Green Man” by Bel Mooney, Barefoot Books, the award-winning “Bible for Children” by Murray Watts, Lion Publishing, and “Brigid's Cloak” by Bryce Milligan, Eerdmans, also award winning.

She has exhibited (See exhibition list ) widely around Britain and the rest of the world. She is represented by The Illustration Cupboard, London and takes part in the Brighton Arts Festival every year in the UK. The Children's Museum of Manhattan recently commissioned her to produce work for “Gods, Myths and Mortals”, an exhibition about ancient Greek life which is currently travelling around the US .

Helen Cann lives in Hove, East Sussex, not far from the sea, and works in some converted stables in an old mews with three other people and a big brown dog. She also spends a lot of time in various local coffee establishments!