Helen Biles

My experience as Design Director for Harpercollins, Australia and Global Creative Manager for illustration agencies has given me a good balance of creative leadership skills paired with strong commercial awareness. 

I regard my key strengths as creative problem-solving, collaborating with creative teams and stakeholders, project management and creative direction, complemented by senior-level professional competencies such as leadership, planning, strategy and organisation.

As Design Director I was responsible for running the design studio, championing the creative part of the business, and leading the creative teams.  

I art directed, inspired and employed a team of designers, illustrators and photographers, plus administrative and production staff, to ensure the individual projects were properly resourced, co-ordinated and communicated to senior management, delivering a high standard of creative output.

The role required me to be highly creative whilst maintaining administrative discipline to consistently deliver the highest quality of design, meeting financial goals, budgets, timelines and milestones.

I was responsible for ensuring there was a consistent, coherent and creative approach on all brands across multi platforms.

My creative experience is broad with a deep understanding of creative, art and design processes. I am a conceptual thinker, skilled in creative problem solving with a willingness to take risks and push boundaries, but with this willingness grounded in a strong commercial awareness. 

I am confident when developing ideas and brainstorming ideas. 

I enjoy fostering growth by developing, inspiring and leading creative people. By directing the creative brief, overseeing, critiquing, and giving valuable feedback I help them enhance their professional skills and empower them to deliver their best work.

Recently I have been working as a Global Creative Manager for illustration agencies in London. I took these roles to gain client facing experience with high-profile, global clients to learn about their digital, creative strategies which build their brands and deliver creative content to their audiences. 

In this role I match talent with high profile brands and oversee the creative projects from brief to completion. By drawing on my creative background and commercial acumen I inspire them to make exciting, contemporary work that meets the needs of a demanding client base.

Artistique International - June 2022 – Current.  London. Global Creative Manager

The Bright Agency - March 2019 – March 2022.  London. Global Creative Manager

I was approached by both companies to build the illustration division in the publishing and brand sectors. I built the business through my skills in creativity and strategy, delivery of creative projects in all media, and developed a talented pool of illustrators.

Helen Biles Studio.  Dec 2012 – March 2019.  Vientiane (Laos)
My partner took an opportunity to work in Laos. I set up a design studio offering design services to local businesses and creative workshops to children. 

HarperCollins Publishers  - May 2005 – Dec 2012, Syd, Australia. Design Director
In this senior leadership role I was responsible for the strategy and creative direction of all publications and marketing campaigns. By leading, inspiring and managing a large team of creatives I delivered creative excellence to the Australian publishing industry.

Additional Roles & University Education

Investor Info, Sydney - Creative Director - April 2001 - November 2004

Gillard Welch Ltd, London – Graphic Designer - May 1998 - Jan 2001

July 2009 – July – 2012 - Masters in Fine Art, University of NSW (COFA), Sydney, Australia.

Oct 1995 - Jun 1997 - BA. Hons. Degree in Design, Nottingham Trent University, UK