Heldur Viires is an Estonian artist. He began his studies in 1945 at Tartu State Art Institute, but it was interrupted when he was arrested in 1949 as a member of the Tartu Circle group of artists. He was sent to Vorkuta prison camp. After he was freed in 1956, he returned to Estonia and continued his studies at the Estonian State Art Institute in Tallinn. He completed his studies in 1959. He then returned to Tartu, where he worked mostly as a book illustrator. He also took part in exhibitions. He started working at the Konrad Mägi Studio as a teacher in 1989. He lives next to the art studio, still gives advice to students, and is the heart and soul of the studio.
