Not long after her birth, Helen Baldwin's parents moved to Gulgong. She attended the local public school, and had a desire to paint from a very early age. After Gulgong Baldwin attended Mudgee High School, then moved to Springwood in the Blue Mountains. While at Springwood she left school and worked with a commercial artist, Wynne Davies, who later moved to America to illustrate film posters.
Baldwin attended dances in Springwood, some of which were attended by Norman Lindsay (q.v.), with whom Helen became friends. Lindsay suggested she go to the East Sydney Art School, and gave her a letter of recommendation for Raynor Hoff, who admitted her into life drawing classes. Baldwin's other instructors included Douglas Dundas, Fred Liest and Roy Davies, and she won many art prizes and a fourth year scholarship. Before the four year course was finished she took a job opportunity with a commercial artist, although she suffered wage discrimination because of her gender.
After the onset of World War II, Baldwin married architect Eric Skarratt. She continued her friendship with Norman Lindsay, and his wife Rose inspired her to begin fine needlepoint. Baldwin's love of the Australian countryside led her to portray Aboriginal people and their way of life in her artwork. She traveled extensively along the western rivers, including Barwon, Namoi and others, and traveled through Central Australia.
Baldwin stopped painting and doing petit point after developing the eye disease glaucoma.
