In May 2023 Helen and Ingrid once again led an intrepid group of mosaic enthusiasts on an action packed 14 day tour of mosaics in Southern Italy. Starting in Naples, the group toured the nearby ancient sites of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Oplontis. These visits were richly narrated by the astoundingly knowledgeable, Tour Guide Dr Daniela Mantice. Visits then to see the Naples Archaeological Read More

The Northern Italy Mosaic Study Tour kicked off in Venice with a spectacular after-hours, fully illuminated private tour of the Basilica of San Marco. This dazzling beginning was followed by a private water taxi guided tour of Venice - La Serenissima, guided visits to Orsoni glass factory in Cannaregio and the Basilica at Torcello, the islands of Burano and Murano, Peggy Guggenheim Museum and Read More

In 2017 and 2018 Helen designed and conducted the ‘Mosaics of northern Italy Tour’ with Ingrid Gaiotto (In Giro Tours). Commencing in Venice with visits to mosaic sites in Torcello and Orsoni in Cannareggio, and exclusive Venetian locations such as the private Venetian boat museum Arzana Squero, the Tour then went east to the little known province of Friuli Venezia Giulia.  Travelling from the Read More

In 2001 I was privileged to be the first Australian artist to undertake an extended independent residency at the Spilimbergo school. When I arrived there I was a tabula rasa. I knew almost nothing at all of the Greco-Roman history of mosaic. I did not know how to use a hammer and hardie, and smalti and marble were new materials to me, having in Australia only used commercially produced vitreous Read More