11 minute read time

Artist and fashion designer, Helen Steele, is one of Ireland’s leading creatives. Her sheer talent, not to mention her admirable output, impresses and inspires a lot of people who cross her path. Known for her paint splatter style and wonderful, uplifting colours, her collaborations with Dunnes Stores have brought her to the mass market, making her artistic vision accessible for all. And she has more coming up! Here she tells us how she finds life in midlife…

Which three adjectives describe you best?

Impulsive, creative, cosmic.

What is on your mind most these days?

What’s on my mind is definitely work deadlines, my kids and also, how I can regenerate my brain.

What is the last thing that you said no to?

I am a bit of a yes person, so the last thing I can remember saying no to was to a Netflix TV series that takes designers from around the world and gets them to create a mini collection based on traditional clothing from different countries. I said no because it meant filming in LA for eight weeks and then a promotional tour around the launch. Due to family and work commitments, and mostly the time difference, it would have meant working 21 hours a day, six days a week. I, unfortunately, can’t create properly without sleep, and I have two teenagers who I couldn’t leave.

What is the last thing you said yes to?

Adding new prints to my upcoming Dunnes interiors range.

How old are you?

I am a child of the 70s. Generation, X just like the film. I am 46 years old.

What made you decide to do what you are now doing in your life?

Art was always part of my life. It was the calm to my ADHD. As I grew older, I became obsessed with fashion and always knew mixing the two was a winner. Even though my first degree was in fashion, I didn’t have the guts to launch my own fashion label until much later when I jumped off the deep end and learned to swim fast.

How many things have you been in your life so far?

I have to drop in my summer jobs because they are interesting, well I think so! I have been a farmhand on a pig farm, which was the most grounded thing I have done. I have been a flower seller in nightclubs. Not so keen on working around drunk people since. I studied broadcasting and theatre studies for a year and dropped out. Then got into fashion college. Finished my degree. Studied art. Worked as a singer / co-songwriter in a thrash metal band while selling my art on Merrion square and St. Stephen’s green at the weekend and, at the time, was working in promotions and was a model with Assets and then 1st Options.

Became a full-time artist. Got signed to galleries in London, Berlin, Muscat and Miami. The recession hit all of the galleries folded within six months except the gallery in the Middle East. Started my own print fashion label in 2012. Showed at Paris fashion week annually until COVID. Started my sportswear collaboration with Dunnes Stores in 2018. And hoping to launch an interiors range with Dunnes in 2021 which I am very excited about.

Where do you come in your family, and did this have any influence on you?

I am the second eldest. It has had a huge influence on the person I am today. I don’t like to conform, I don’t like rules. I think the second child is a lot like this. My poor brother took the blame for everything I did as a teenager.

Are you where you wanted to be at this stage in your life?

I would like to be much further ahead. And I think being a dosser in school (to distract from my ADHD) held me back. So when I left school I had to work twice as hard and for much longer. However, I have so much gratitude to the universe, God, my family, my pals, teachers, mentors, my clients, customers, manufacturers and work teams and bosses, artists, designers, boutiques owners, photographers, stylists, make up artists, musicians, actresses, and literally all of the incredible people who helped me along the way because they are half of the reason I am where I am today.

What is the best, and worst piece of advice you have received in your life so far?

The best piece of advice I got was, ‘what you put into it is what you get out of it.’ It was a line the head nun in secondary school used to repeat nearly daily and it stuck. And the worst piece of advice was to try to be a bit more conservative. It’s just not in my DNA. I really think there is always a compromise and balance needed in life but that should never dilute your DNA.

What does midlife feel like to you?

Midlife has its pros and cons. To be honest, I hate how my face has aged. Don’t mind so much about my body as it has given birth to three amazing kids. And it still works really well after years of bulimia. I appreciate my body much more now. So that’s just the visual aspect. My head is in a much better place. I don’t care so much anymore about what people think of me, but I do care what they think of my kids and my work.

Is there something you have dreamt of doing for a long time? What is it? Are you going to do it?

I have always wanted to do interiors and I will be doing that this year with Dunnes so that’s exciting. However, the dream for me is to have a studio/atelier that shows my clothes and paintings that follow the sun. It literally does a portable pop up in interesting sun destinations every season. Where my scarves, kaftans, painted accessories and painting would be for sale. The light is crucial for me for work. And after a year of lockdown with most of it in our climate, I have never felt it more.

Has there been a place, event, or experience that has transformed you or given you a new perspective? And what changed after that?

Having kids changed my life. I know most people say this. But it gave me a new perspective on life. It made me want to really succeed, to be a better person, to create better work, to make better choices. They brought even more colour into my life.

People talk a lot about pivoting these days, of all the 'switches' you've made or recommend, which has been the most powerful change for you personally?

I think if you don’t pivot and adapt you will fail. I have always had to adapt and change - it’s the business of what I do.

Is there a milestone you are working towards in your personal or professional life at the moment?

I’m pretty impulsive so no, there isn’t.

Do you feel your creativity is surging or sinking in midlife?

I think midlife is great for creativity. It however is not good for my self-esteem. People treat you differently. It’s annoying in some aspects and wonderful in other aspects because you become invisible which makes it much more interesting to watch and observe people.

How do you think the world of work can improve for women?

I think the world of work actually starts at home. How we raise our sons and daughters is vital to how they work, how they lead, how they treat others. It needs to be kinder to women. The further up the ladder you go the fewer women there are. We need to help the younger generation of women more, especially those having kids, and those coming back into the industry after having kids.

We need to be easier on ourselves, you cannot have it all at the same time, something has to give and it’s unfair to expect women to be able to achieve this all at the same time. That has been my experience. Because to strive for this is fine but to beat yourself up about not achieving it is setting yourself up for burnout.

What do you spend too much time doing? And what do you spend too little doing?

I spend way too much time on Instagram. But I really like connecting with other artists and designers and customers. It’s a great place to do that.

How do you care for your own wellbeing?

I think I am pretty balanced when it comes to my wellbeing. I love to exercise, I have a better relationship with food now so I’m more balanced in my choices, except with sugar – I’m a demon for chocolate. I like to meditate and do yoga and pilates with my daughter regularly. So I think I’m okay. I do need to probably have a better work/life balance, I paint in my bedroom last thing and night and first thing in the morning. I paint at the kitchen table. I make prints every day. But that’s the way it has to be for now.

What do you feel free of now that you are at this life stage?

I feel free from the shame that I was burdened with when I left school. The education system knocked all the confidence in my intellect. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my thirties. I always thought that I was just a bit crazy and that was why it was so hard to learn and concentrate. It wasn’t until I reached college that I realised I actually had some level of intelligence.

What gives you the most stress at this life stage?

The most stress at this stage of life is the health/education/ wellbeing of my kids, and business cash flow, tax and death.

Do you sleep well?

I used to be able to sleep standing up. But COVID has knocked that, unfortunately.

Do you take any supplements or HRT?

I have low osteoporosis so I take calcium supplements. But I have to be really careful what supplements I take due to ADHD.

What advice would you offer to yourself in your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s?

20s: Live, travel, work hard. Get your finances in order. Don’t forget to eat well and stretch. Wear sunscreen. Late 20s, start a pension. Run.
30s: Jesus, enjoy this time, it’s magic. Wear sunscreen. Have a few revenue streams. Stretch. Run.
40s: Don’t listen to what you should wear for your age. You are an individual being, dress for you and nobody else. Wear sunscreen. Stretch. Stop running.

Did you ever feel lost in your life path? How did you find your way again?

I feel lost at least three times a week. And each time I pick myself back up and just get on with it.

What do you love about yourself?

My shovel hands! They create.

When do you feel truly alive?

When running, painting, dancing, listening to music. Travelling.

What do you consider your biggest achievement?

My kids and work.

What was a major turning point in your life?

Having kids.

What are you looking forward to?

A holiday in the sun. And seeing my eldest daughter who I haven’t seen for so long due to COVID. And seeing my Dad and his wife and my youngest brother who are all in the US. I haven’t seen them since 2018.

Are you a good friend?

I’m not great at keeping in contact. But I would like to think I’m a good friend. I’m really, really lucky to have a brilliant group of friends.

What in life is beautiful to you? Where do you find inspiration?

I think there is beauty in nearly everything on this earth. If it has life in it, it has some form of beauty in it.

Any regrets?

Loads and loads.

What are you afraid of?

Birds!! And I lived on a duck farm for 22 years!! I’m also afraid of death, ghosts, and really intoxicated people or people who are absolutely out of it on drugs.

Knowing what you know now, what is most important in life?

Health and happiness, family, friendship and the sunshine.

Favourite book, and why?

The Alchemist and Star of the Sea. Not sure why!

Favourite piece of music, and why?

I can’t pick just one!! That’s a total Sophie’s Choice.

Last time you cried (tears of joy count!)

My mother-in-law passed away last week. I always thought she and her husband would live forever. She was a woman ahead of her time. An incredible businesswoman, cook, grandmother, mother-in-law and friend. She will be sadly missed. She founded Silverhill Duck with her husband Ronnie.

How do you draw on your own inner strength and creativity?

Sleep. It’s the answer to everything. You can tackle anything when rested. My creativity suffers without it.

What are your feelings on this new Covid world we find ourselves in now?

I despise it all. Everything. Can’t wait for it to end. The mental health services in this country are at a breaking point. I fear for all the business that will go to the wall after this and for another sack of debt that we will be paying back certainly for my lifetime. The pathetic rollout of the vaccines will lead to a much longer recovery. I don’t understand why the most inept part of our civil service is responsible for something so important. It’s the most underperforming department of the civil service. It’s a joke. I’m not giving out about the doctors or nurses I’m talking about the administration.