Ruth has been fascinated by portraiture since her mid-teens. She taught herself to paint in oils while also studying for a BA in Music, and on graduating began painting full-time.
Ruth’s work is almost always figurative; it is humanity, facial expression, and body language which spark her imagination. She is celebrated for her empathetic characterisations, and for the strong narrative element she brings to her paintings. Inspirations include the work of pre-Raphaelite and naturalist painters (Waterhouse, Bastien-LePage, Friant).
Ruth is passionate about painting from life – she is drawn to the organic experience of capturing her immediate reality in paint. This passion is balanced by a keen curiosity regarding texture, layers, and edges. Quick, immersive live studies are generally followed by extensive studio work.
Ruth has been awarded Signature Status Membership by the Portrait Society of America (2023) and elected a Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2023). In 2024 she was selected for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award exhibition (National Portrait Gallery, London). Selected awards include People’s Choice Award in Portrait Society of America International Competition (2023), Purchase Award from the Art Renewal Center (2021) and 1st Place Young Artist award with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2020).
Ruth has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery London, Sotheby’s NYC, Arcadia Contemporary NYC, The Salmagundi Club NYC, The European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) Barcelona, and in galleries across the UK.
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