My colourful world with Helen Bankers

Life & Leisure magazine

Regularly capturing the homes, places and people you read about in the pages before you, including our cover story with Ali Mau, we thought it was time for you to get to know photographer and visual artist Helen Bankers.

What inspires your use of colour?

My biggest inspiration for colour was from my mum’s mum, Josephina Maria – she wore colour, but never in a haphazard way. Blush lips, white blouse, with a beautiful flowing pink/red skirt, perhaps matching shoes. And all from the Salvation Army. She was the best-dressed person; and the flowers she planted always made me so grateful for her bold colour choices!

Helen Bankers, photographers and visual artist

Helen Bankers' colourful office

The compositions of colours within nature are phenomenal. Look closely and you will see a whole new world of beauty, which always inspires me. As you can see in my office, my personal projects always come back to nature. My favourite combinations at the moment are either the colours of a dark day out to sea, like that of Resene Blue Night, with hues of greyish blues and drama and the deep flush of fire and gold of Resene Sunset.

What role does colour play in your life?

Colour is everything, it has such an impact on our day-today life. The eye needs colour as much as it needs light! My favourite colour of the moment is Resene Blue Diamond – it’s such a beautiful hue that mirrors the colours of nature – think wild pansies growing in the garden. Without colour life would be without imagination – it would be bland and lack inspiration.

Favourite shot - a deep and moody backdrop