WHEN Londoner Helli Luck picked up her first paintbrush at 5 years old, she knew that she wanted to be an artist—and that dream carried her through to making it a reality. Winning her first award at 12, she went on to have her work displayed in the Mall Galleries in London and did a campaign with Pall Mall before traveling to Europe.

Luck went on to work as an art director with Saatchi and Saatchi, a job that took her all over the world, giving her a unique opportunity to see new cultures and artistic expression in a more global way.

Luck’s travels have provided her with a range of captivating subjects, inspiring her to paint her surroundings. She also has the desire to capture the passage of light through a scene and conjure the feeling it created in that moment. “I love to try and evoke an impression, leaving room for the viewer to feel the emotion,” Luck says.

The artist is drawn to the rich texture of oils, starting with a loose, thin sketch that resembles watercolor before building up to thicker paint. Now living in Pawleys Island, she paints the local scenery and wildlife.

Luck’s work is represented at Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, Wynsum Antiques & Interiors in Charleston, Lowcountry Artists Gallery in Charleston and Stellers Gallery in Jacksonville, Florida.