Helge Larsen was born in Denmark in 1929 where he trained and then practiced as jeweller and silversmith establishing a successful jewellery and silversmith studio and shop, Sølvform, (Silver form), with Harald Jensen, in Copenhagen.

Helge first met Darani when she walked into Sølvform seeking experience and training in 1959.

When the prospect of becoming sole proprietor of Sølvform came up, Helge chose instead to join Darani, migrating to Australia in 1961 where the pair formed their professional partnership, Larsen & Lewers, and held their first exhibition at Macquarie Galleries in Sydney.

As part of Larsen & Lewers Helge was instrumental in the development of contemporary jewellery in Australia, within the broader context of Danish design. As well as forging an artistic reputation of international renown.

He also lectured for 35 years at several tertiary institutions including the University of NSW, and established the Jewellery and Silversmithing studio at Sydney College of the Arts in 1977. Helge was made associate professor in 1990 and appointed head of school from 1991 to 1993. He retired from Sydney College of the Arts, then a faculty the University of Sydney, in 1996.    

In the 1980's, in response to a growing interest in making international connections in the arts, Helge drew on his European connections to organise cultural exchanges in the field of jewellery as well as curate international exhibitions that toured to Europe, South East Asia and Australia.

In recognition of Larsen & Lewers' contribution to contemporary jewellery, the National Gallery of Victoria organised a retrospective exhibition of their work which toured Australia and Europe from 1986 - 1988.

In the catalogue essay for the exhibition Judith O’Callaghan, curator of Metalwork at the National Gallery of Victoria wrote:

’The partnership between Helge Larsen and Darani Lewers has few parallels within Australian craft. They were pioneers of the modern jewellery movement in this country.’

In 2007 Helge was awared an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Visual Arts, University of Sydney, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the arts.