For artist Helen Downie, age is just a number — which is why it didn’t stop her from discovering and entering into the arena of arts at 48. Within two years of her stint, Downie rose to fame and, today, she is frequently commissioned to work for fashion brands such as Gucci and publications such as Vogue. In 2013, when Downie’s son’s friend recommended the idea of showcasing her fashion-inspired portraits on Instagram, she didn’t think twice and jumped at the opportunity. In no time, her Instagram handle @unskilledworker got a lot of attention, appreciation and love from the fashion world and even beyond. Some of Downie’s prominent works include creating tribute pieces for Alexander McQueen’s most iconic works, a series of portraits inspired by the works of Gucci’s Alessandro Michele, and the likes. Her iconic portraits have been prominently featured in articles and reviews in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, W magazine and several other publications.
