An artist based in Canada, Ontario
Heather Held
Heather Victoria Held is a Canadian freelance-lettering artist specializing in ornamental penmanship and offhand flourishing. Her studio, The Victorian Pen, is found in a small village, St. George, about an hour west of Toronto, Ontario.
She has studied extensively with Master Penman Michael Sull and Master Penman Brian Walker. In 2009 she was the recipient of the Spencerian Heritage Award given through Michael Sull at the Spencerian Saga.
A long-time member of Master Penman Brian Walker’s Spencerian Review Study Group, CLAS, The Copperplate Special Interest Group, and a faculty member of several International Calligraphy Conferences, Heather served as the President of IAMPETH between 2013-2014. She continues to support IAMPETH on the Board of Directors as an advisor and as an instructor for the conferences.
Heather is a firm believer in mentoring, having received much from past mentors. Through her encouraging and gentle guidance, she helps students to achieve the next level in their skills.
Her work in promoting handwriting skills has attracted television, magazine and radio coverage in Canada. Heather has also conducted intensive workshops in Offhand Flourishing, Decorative Lettering and Ornamental Penmanship worldwide.
When she is not working with her pointed pen, studying medieval and renaissance illumination or botanical painting techniques, Heather enjoys walking in nature which is her inspiration.
Her art hangs in private collections around the world and has been featured in Pen World, Bound and Lettered, Calligrafia, Somerset Studio, Romantic Homes, The Penman’s Journal, The Spencerian Review, 1000 Handmade Cards. The Speedball Textbook, The Copperplate Manual and Good Mail Day.
Married to her best friend Chris, Heather creates hand-dyed and hand-painted Held Pens which are highly sought after by artists throughout the world.
In Symbiosis II, Heather mentored Rachel Koh, Mabel Khi and Nathalie Mora. As their trusted advisor, she readily availed herself to them in their explorations and art-making process.
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