Biography

"In some small way, I hope that through my art I can recapture and convey the proud spirit of my people."

Bill Helin's proud native Indian heritage has played an important role in his growth as an artist. Helin is of the Tsimshian Indian Nation, born and raised in the North

west coastal community of Prince Rupert, B.C.

His Grandfather, Henry William Helin, was Chief of the Gitlan Tribe, and his Grandmother, Maud Helin, was Chieftainess of the Gitgeese Tribe. They raised a family of seven in the remote Northwest coast Indian village of Port Simpson, B.C. When his Grandmother came to live with his family, Bill spent many hours listening in wonder as she spoke of the ways of the Past and the Power of God. Through his 'Granny', Bill learned first hand the many Legends of the Tsimshian.

Helin's artistic nature was evident even at a very early age. By the time he was three, he was already drawing and it wasn't long before he was amusing his family, friends and teachers with caricatures and cartoons. His skill at cartooning soon developed, through airbrushing into a more progressive 'heavy metal' style. From there, it wasn't long before he was sign painting and producing first class commercial posters.

For the most part, Helin's artistry is self-taught. He learned from books, and was soon mastering techniques such as three dimensional forming, called repousse. Several jeweller friends provided him with valuable tips on gem settings and they encouraged and inspired Bill in his pursuit of excellence.

In 1973, Helin moved with his family to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where he graduated from Nanaimo Senior Secondary School, winning the prestigious Michael Gergley Arts Scholarship in 1979.

Several years later, while recovering from accidental electrocution, he took up woodcarving. At about this time an artist friend, Art Sterrit, was so taken with his work that he sponsored Bill at K'San, B.C.'s famous Indian Art and Carving School in Hazelton. Since then, Bill Helin has never looked at any other vocation. At first he concentrated on silver jewellery, then gold and platinum a couple years later. Of course Bill has created some large wood projects such as the worlds tallest totem pole and his 40 foot dug out Ravensong canoe but his passion is illustrating childrens books and creating story videos.

In February 1988, Helin attended the renowned Gemology Institute of America in Santa Monica, California, completing advanced courses in Goldsmithing and Gem Setting. Jewelry is by far his main source of income which has been spread to the world market through the world wide web since 1996 when he first started the billhelin.com website. To this day Bill enjoys connecting with people in love from all over the world.

Since 1993 Bill worked with the Canadian Space Agency and NASA to design a crew a crew patch and 2 uniform patches for two space missions, STS-78 Shuttle Columbia in 1994 and Bob Thirsk`s 6 month mission on the Int. Space Station in May of 2010.

Also in May of 2010 Bill presented a talking stick to former President of the United States and took his Ravensong canoe to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

 Vancouver Island is still Bill`s home where he has raised his 4 children and ran three art galleries, with the help of most of his family. "I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work closely with my family to own and operate retail businesses in our local community, which was rewarding and educational for all of us, but also richly rewarding to have so much support for our business."

Bill has also been a member of the Parksville Chamber of Commerce for many years; Rotary club for 14 years; Vancouver Board of Trade as resident artist for 15 years; a director of Aboriginal Tourism B.C. and has supported B.C. Lions Foundation and Canucks for Kids, Creatures in the City three times; Arts Umbrella and supported local schools and fund raising programs extensively, mostly to support childrens and youth programs. Not to mention coaching hockey and other sports programs for over 18 years.

WORD FROM THE ARTIST

"I really love everything about my career but I do have one regret and that is that I wish I had followed through on my dream to illustrate comics and pursue a career in animation at Disney. My sights for that kind of opportunity were clouded by family upbringing and the fact that we never had access to the information we have now at our finger tips like now, back then, it just wasn`t a reality for me.

I am thankful for everything and even to this point in my life I am following dream to illustrate childrens books full time and someday have some of them made into 3-D animation movies and games.

Other important issues that make my new direction fulfilling are the challenges that our endangered species have and our environment. I hope to make a difference

in educating the world and the youth of this planet, and to encourage them to join the Protect the Planet Movement.

Mother Earth needs our help, please do something to help, your future generations will thank you."