About Helene Ruma 

I am a Lake Macquarie artist specialising in paintings and drawings of animals. Since 2009 I have worked full-time as an artist completing a variety of projects such as 4 murals in New South Wales and Victoria, Illustrated 2 children books with another in progress and I have taught art to children and adults both locally and in rural Victoria.

I have won several art prizes and in 2016 I also judged the Casterton Kelpie acquisitive art competition after receiving first prize in 2013. 

Although my all my artworks are available for purchase, these days my focus is to experiment with my art where my attention is on the process of creating.

Education

I am constantly attending private art classes and workshops in a variety of mediums.
I also have the following tertiary qualifications.

University of Western Sydney, Nepean — 1991-1992
Associate Diploma of Graphic Design, Illustration Major

Liverpool Tafe — 1990
Associate Diploma of Fine Arts

Experience

After School Art Teacher — 2012-2022
Focusing on children between the ages of 9-18 years old

Contract Artist in Primary Schools — 2011-2016
I was contracted by two local primary schools to teach art to children K-6 (with a tertiary qualified primary school teacher present).

  • Wangi Wangi Public School

  • Rathmines Public School

I also taught art on a voluntary basis at schools in country Victoria (with tertiary qualified primary and high school teachers present).

  • Casterton High School

  • Casterton Primary School

  • Sacred Heart School, Casterton

  • Woomelang Group School

  • Warracknabeal Primary School

Murals — 2015-2022
I took each mural from brief to final artwork.

  • Arcadia Vale Public School - 40sqm

  • Rathmines Public School - 20sqm

  • Casterton Kindergarten - 6sqm

  • Attie Lane, RATHMINES - 18sqm

Book Illustrations - 2014-Present

  • The Adventures of Eddie McTeddie: Let’s Go, To the Park

  • The Adventures of Eddie McTeddie: Let’s Go, To the Beach

  • The New Kid (in progress)

Accomplishments

Arts Leader Award — 2019
Presented by Lake Macquarie council for my work with youth in the arts.

Judge, Kelpie Casterton Art Prize — 2016

How to Draw (Magazine) — 2014
Printed on cover page.
10 page article including biography and “how to” demonstration

Artist’s Palette Magazine — 2013
Printed on cover page.
10 page article including biography and “how to” demonstration

Awards

Singleton Art Prize — 2025
Commended, Portrait section

Great Lakes Art Exhibition — 2015
First Prize, Works on Paper section

Combined Art Societies of Sydney, Darling Harbour — 2014
Highly Commended, 9”x5” section

Morirset Art Show — 2014
First Prize, Works on Paper section

Great Lakes Art Exhibition — 2014
Second Prize, Works on Paper section

Kelpie Casterton Art Prize — 2014
Highly Commended

Kelpie Casterton Art Prize — 2013
First Prize, Best in Show

Newcastle Art Society, Mt Hutton Exhibition — 2011
Highly Commended

Newcastle Art Society, Belmont Exhibition — 2011
Highly Commended

Newcastle Art Society, Wallsend Exhibition — 2011
People’s Choice