About Me

Hi there! I'm Helen Kelly of Brisbane Hand Lettering. 
A Brisbane based letterer & graphic designer.

I grew up drawing cartoons and in primary school I fell in love with my copy of Noelene Morris's 'The Lettering Book', which I still have to this day. In high school I received a Sheaffer calligraphy boxed set that I nagged my folks to buy me as I adored calligraphy and continued to dabble while studying Fine Arts. 26 years ago I turned my focus to graphic design but I never stopped lettering. I even got a freelance job writing calligraphy on 150 Optus Gala Ball invitations!  

In 2015 after attending Wayne Thompson's of Australian Type Foundry's 'Type By Hand' day intensive with Matt Vergotis, I wanted to just keep GOING!  That's how I started up Brisbane Hand Lettering & holding bi-monthly lettering meet-ups. These are open to anyone to come along & practice or work on their own projects with other like minded letterheads. Some of my early attendees were asking if I could teach them the Brush Lettering technique that I was doing, and that my friend is how my workshops were born! While I have loved teaching for 3 yrs at various venues from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney, I decided to hang up my workshop hat and reclaim my precious weekends with my family.

When I'm not creating freelance work for clients & working part time, I'm drinking WAY too many coffees & frequenting every art gallery I can muster!

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Qualifications & Training:

• Diploma of Fine Art – TAFE
• Certificate in Visual Arts & Design – TAFE
• Certificate in Ceramics – TAFE
• Diploma of Graphic Design – CATC Design School
• Coding for Designers – Aquent Gymnasium
• ‘Train Small Groups’ – National On Site Training

Past Speaker At:

• The Design Kids ‘TDK Tuesdays’ Brisbane
• Ladies Wine & Design – Brisbane chapter

Featured Online:

• Desktop Magazine
• SLQ The Edge

Clients Include:

• Leah Desborough Photography
• Jane Milburn – Textile Beat
• KTB Design
• Noosa Yarn Company
• Glitter My Timbers
• Cake My Day by Jo

Collaborations With:

• Carys Martin Ceramics – Brush Lettering Eco Ceramic Travel Cup
• Kylie And The Machine – Woven 'Slow Clothing' sewing labels

Designs donated to:

• The Lovewell Project Café, Mt Gravatt Lookout – Window Murals
• Compassion Is My Fashion – 2 x T-shirt Designs

Workshop programs delivered for:

• Makers Escape Montville & Makers Escape North Brisbane over 3 yrs for Ministry of Handmade
• BrisStyle Inc. Craft Art Markets

Australian Blue Card Holder