Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in 1954, Helen Wilson studied at Glasgow School of Art and Hospitalfield between 1971 and 1976. During this time she was awarded the Robert Hart Bursary and Governor’s Prize, Hospitalfield; a Travelling Scholarship (Italy and Yugoslavia); the WO Hutcheson Prize for Drawing; the Postgraduate Studies Award, Glasgow School of Art; and the John and Mabel Craig Award.

Since then Helen Wilson has won numerous awards, the most recent being: Diploma of the Paisley Art Institute (2005); 1^st Prize, Scottish Drawing Competition (2005, 2000 and 1997)); Cyril Gerber Award and Millers Art Prize, Paisley Art Institute (2003); Garrick/Milne Competition, Commissioning Prize: Portrait of David Suchet (2003); Regional Prize: The Discerning Eye Exhibition, London (2003). She was elected to the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1997.

Helen Wilson has taken part in numerous exhibitions across Scotland, in London and in the USA, including the RGI, RSW, RSA and RA. Her works are held in various private and public collections.