Helma Timmermans is a designer and artist, based in Amsterdam. After studying at art school, she built a career of nearly three decades in graphic design, working primarily for organisations in the cultural and social sector. Many of these organisations are committed to inclusivity, accessibility, and mental healthcare.

Through colorful and thoughtful design, she aims to contribute in her own way to a world that feels more beautiful, fair, and human.

Alongside her design practice, Helma creates artwork under the name Zona Elena. She describes the work as botanical fiction: atmospheric compositions inspired by organic forms, texture, growth, and imagination.

Graphic design and autonomous art have continuously influenced and inspired one another throughout her career. Both practices are connected by a strong sense of care, human connection, and visual storytelling through composition, color, and layering.

Working with watercolor, pigment, and paper, Zona Elena embraces imperfection, layering, and flow. The creative process remains visible in each piece, giving the work a tactile and almost living quality.

All prints are produced in Amsterdam on museum-quality Hahnemühle paper using piezography, a fine art printing technique known for its rich tonal depth and archival longevity.