Helen Hale was born in 1936 in Hertfordshire and educated at St. George's School, Harpenden.

From 1955 to 1970 she combined a career in designing and illustrating books and book jackets (for the publisher Robert Hale Ltd.) with part-time study at St. Martin's School of Art, London and the Sir John Cass School of Art. During the 1960's she was an active member of the Free Painters and Sculptors group together with the 1960's luminaries Cecil Stephenson and Frank Avray Wilson. She also showed with the National Society, the Royal Institute and the Society for Women Artists. Whilst living in Hampstead Hale was a prominent member of the Hampstead Artist's Council and the Women's International Art Club.