About
Ruth has an Honors Diploma in Art and Creativity and was awarded a full scholarship to finish her final year. Her work has three times been selected for publication by Artfind (for their diary and calendar) and she has been a finalist for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award in 2008 and 2009, 2012 and 2014, as well as being a finalist in the Katikati National Mural Competition 2008.
Working as a professional artist since 2004 her work can usually be found in Galleries throughout the North Island
Born in New Zealand to British parents, she lives in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Ruth's paintings express the human condition; she likes her work to have a narrative aspect and to go beyond being merely decorative.
"As the years pass, I find myself taking a lot longer just thinking about a work, before I even lay down a brush stroke, what I call the unconscious simmering and incubation period. I then work out what colour palette to use, which techniques, composition etc. The actual painting process in usually quite straight forward once this gestation period is over. I am trying to use less brushstrokes with each work, but making them more effective in terms of the right hue, value, chroma and shape. Hopefully ending up with a work full of fresh, juicy painterly licks!
My technique has evolved over the years; I love the excitement of colour and the spontaneity of abstraction. However, for me, this is not enough to be able to communicate my stories, therefore I use elements of abstraction, with rich colour and dramatic layers of texture, thus creating a complex background. I then use more representational elements to create my narrative, building images with bold use of light and shadow to create form; with use of line, mark making, and negative shapes, interest is added to my work."
Exhibitions:
2018
The Royal Easter Show, Auckland
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
2017
The Royal Easter show, Auckland
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
2016
The Royal Easter Show, Auckland
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
2015
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition,
Whakatane
2014
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition, Whakatane
2013
Gallery 59 "mini's" Exhibition, Tauranga
The New Zealand Art Show, Wellington
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
Baradene Art Exhibition, Auckland
2012
Gallery 59 "mini's" Exhibition, Tauranga
The New Zealand Art Show, Wellington
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
Baradene Art Exhibition, Auckland
Bethlehem College Art Exhibition, Tauranga
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition, Whakatane
2011
Gallery 59 'Gifted' Exhibition, Tauranga
Bethlehem College Art Exhibition, Tauranga
Orakei Art Exhibition, Auckland
Baradene Art Exhibition, Auckland
2010
'Braveheart' by invite only, curated by Liz Caughey (aurthor of 5 books on NZ art), Auckland
Baradene Art Exhibition, Auckland
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition, Whakatane
2009
Single artist wall at the New Zealand art show - Wellington
Bethlehem College Art Exhibition - Tauranga
'Celebration 2 Exhibition 2009' at Creative Tauranga - 23 locally celebrated artists
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition, Whakatane
2008
The Garden & Artfest Tauranga
The Original Art Show in Auckland
The Affordable New Zealand Art show in Wellington
St Andrew's Anglican Church, 22-24 August, Epsom, Auckland
Bethlehem College art exhibition - Tauranga
2007
The Original Art Sale - Auckland
Bethlehem College Art Exhibition - Tauranga
The New Zealand Affordable Art Show - Wellington
National Women's Art Exhibition, 1-8 June 2007, Lindauer Cellars Gisborne
2006
NZ Academy of Fine Arts spring exhibition November (Wellington)
Oct - Awareness exhibition - featuring 5 Bay of Plenty Artists - Shelley Rich, Hayley Brown, Louise Prastiti, Bryce Brown, Ruth Vickers - at Bay Nissian Tauranga
The New Zealand Affordable Art Show - August (Wellington)
Bethlehem College exhibition - Tauranga
Solo Exhibition - 'Evidence of Inhabitation' - The Art Boutique - Tauranga
2005
The New Zealand Affordable Art Show - Wellington
End of Term 3 Exhibition at 'The Learning Connexion' (Wellington)
End of Term 1 Exhibition at 'The Learning Connexion' Wellington
2004
Garden & Art Fest - Tauranga
End of Term 4 Exhibition at 'The Learning Connexion'
End of Term 2 Exhibition at 'The Learning Connexion' Wellington
2003
End of Term 4 Exhibition at 'The Learning Connexion' Wellington
Mid year exhibition 'Tauranga Art Society'
1992 - 2003
Work produced and printed for the 'Hastings Club'
Various works sold in 'Gallery 246' Hastings
Work produced for the Herald Tribune (fashion drawings) Hawkes Bay