Helen Perrett creates works with a fantastical, narrative quality, drawing from her interests in travel, language, art history, animals, gardening, and reading. Her pieces often reference literature and mythology, influenced by children's book illustrations. Helen cites inspiration from artists such as William Heath Robinson, Arthur Rackham, Michael Hague, Chris Riddell, Mervyn Peake, Nick Bantock, Peter Suart, Shaun Tan, and Kay Nielsen.
Working primarily with terracotta clays, Helen also enjoys experimenting with porcelain, blending modelling and throwing techniques. While most of her works are fired in an electric kiln to earthenware temperatures, she occasionally explores soda firing and raku, adding complexity to her process. Her sculptural pieces are often finished with layers of coloured slips and oxide washes, creating rich, textured surfaces.
In addition to her solo practice, Helen collaborates with Susan St Lawrence under the name "Small Stories." Together, they have exhibited ten times. Helen is also a member of the Lush collective, which exhibits periodically around a shared theme.