New work for 2022

 

Sunrise on the school run 40 x 40 cm acrylic on canvas.

How are you all doing? It seems the news gets crazier by the day to the point now where I'm listening to much more music to distract me from the buffoon in charge. Thankfully I'm of an age where I know that things come to pass and we come out the other side eventually it just seems to have been a bloody long decade!

We are lucky though if only we open our eyes and see the beauty that is all around every day, last week or maybe it was the week before who knows but each morning I was blinded on the way home from the school run by magnificent sunrises which alongside massive traffic jams meant I had plenty of time to absorb all the colours. This inspired me to get the paints out and put them all down at once onto the canvas with one of them being the above piece called Sunrise on the school run showing the view on the way to Kilburn.

My new job has sent me up some hills in Matlock Bath, and the surrounding area, here's one that I've just finished too.

Matlock Bath from the Jubilee Bridge.35 x 25 cm.

Along with the representational stuff I've just wanted to get the colour down so here's a few abstract studies, I love doing these very therapeutic.

30 x 24 cm

 10 x 8"

6 x 8"

30 x 24 cm

The colours all look better in real life so I hope you can come along and see me this year at the various events I will be doing around the area. See my website www.ruthgrayimages.com for details.

It was nice to see my painting in the background of this video the other day :) 

https://youtu.be/ZdEaLKpwzZ8 

Mapping it Out, New Work for St John Street Gallery

I sourced an old ordnance survey map of Derbyshire on line, to use as part of a new series of work for St John Street Gallery my intention was to literally tear it up into sections and stick it down and then see what happened next.

By chance I was left with a small corner of the map of the Staffordshire Moorlands and after layering ink and mediums on to the initial layer of maps I again tore up the corner and placed that on to the canvas and from that I looked at the names on those pieces and found some wonderful locations which I have painted below.
The surfaces are full of texture and character of the maps it was certainly an interesting way to create new work.

Near Calton Green

Detail of Near Calton Green

Devils Staircase

Detail For Devils Staircase

Ipstones Edge

Detail of Ipstones Edge

Near Kingsley Holt

Detail of Near Kingsley Holt

Weaver Hills

Detail of Weaver Hills

You can view the new pieces at St John Street Gallery Ashbourne from August 1st. They are all 30 x 30 cm on box canvas £300 each contact the gallery to make a purchase.

My last show before summer is a charity event at The Belper Games where I will be selling a range of greeting cards and my #100dayproject cards.

Views From The Derwent Valley Book

I've been working on completing a few intended projects over Easter in between family commitments etc.. and one of those projects was my Views from the Derwent Valley I always intended to publish the images as a book so that all the images are in order of the valley from Matlock Bath to Derby.

Below is the link to it in a variety of formats soft, hard cover and also e-book you can also request a book directly from myself I can order it for you if you prefer not to pay online.

Views From The Derwent Valley

By artist Ruth Gray

St John Street Exhibition Opening

I would like to thank everyone who attended last nights opening of my exhibition at St John Street Gallery  it was great to see so many people come especially lovely surprise was my Mum who travelled nearly two hours through accidents and rain and just made it at the end. Even in my mid forties I want parental approval!
Also lovely to see was Get Outside Champion Nigel John Vardy who picked up his painting of Shining Cliff Woods he said

'Over the years, I've camped, walked and skied though the woods, and now a beautiful image showing its full splendour will adorn my walls...'

The show is on for two weeks so please go along and take a look its a great gallery and they serve wonderful food and coffee in the cafe upstairs.

Cabin by the Canal

Cabin By The Canal acrylic on box canvas 40 x 40 cm

Stroll along the canal at Cromford and peer into the fields you will see relics of the industrial era just about standing this old railway carriage made me imagine perhaps a prior use as a getaway from it all in the woods or just a shelter for the sheep who knows but it was beautiful that spring day when I went by.

View From Peak cavern Castleton

View From Peak Cavern 40 x 40 cm acrylic on box canvas.

One of the most magical places in Derbyshire for me is Castleton a beautiful village that lights up with Christmas trees each year and has a ruined castle, high high hillsides,  streams, caves , gorges, blue john gem stones I mean really can one place have more amazing stuff! If you get a chance go next Christmas see Santa, sit by a roaring fireside in an olde worlde pub by some gems its lovely.
http://ruthgrayimages.net

An Adventure at |The Heights of Abraham

An Adventure at the Heights of Abraham  50 x 50 cm acrylic on box canvas.

At the end of the summer holidays just before they went to begin the 'Big School' the boys abandoned all cares and spent the day on the adventure playground. I watched on a little wistful that maybe next year they wont be so carefree.........................

The Artist and the Lily Pads

The Artist and the Lily Pads 30 x 30 cm acrylic on box canvas.

The weekend after the referendum on the UK leaving the European Union. I took myself to my favourite place Matlock Bath, and stared at Lily pads it was a good feeling, I wasn't the only artist there either as I looked around there was another artist quietly painting by the river like nothing had ever happened. Thank god for beauty.
http://ruthgrayimages.net 

Happy at Haddon

Happy at Haddon 30 x 30 cm acrylic on box canvas.

Sometime ago I observed two mothers playing with their children at Haddon Hall, A brief moment away from it all at Haddon Hall.
http://ruthgrayimages.net 

Wild Garlic Matlock Bath

Wild Garlic Matlock Bath 80 x 100 cm

Just before the leaves on the trees are fully formed there is a carpet of fragrant wild garlic along the banks of the Derwent in Matlock Bath, to me its a heavenly scent and means that soon we will all be basking in the sun once again.
http://ruthgrayimages.net

News for Autumn

Hello I have just got back from my holidays taking much needed time off. I have been spending the time travelling and photographing some of the UK’s most wonderful cities including York, Oxford and London. Whether any of these make it to canvas only time will tell! Take a look at my Instagram to see some of the shots https://www.instagram.com/ruthgrayimages

Autumn sees me dive back into things with two demos for regional art groups an ink workshop and preparations for October exhibitions more on those below.

Festival Time

September is art festival season and I am pleased to say that I will be participating in two the first is New Mills Festival where I am part of the towns arts trail along with 66 other selected artists my work will be on display in the window of Gioia Mia Café. The big weekend is 23^rd ,24^th and 25^th but the window displays are there all September. For more information http://www.newmillsfestival.com/ArtTrail/arttrail.htm

The other festival is the inaugural Duffield Arts Festival 17th & 18th September £3 per day or £5 for both, under 16's FREE Celebrating Duffield's creative community with a program of activity and performances at various locations around the village. I am one of 15 established and professional artists who are exhibiting a number of works, with a stall and display at the Ecclesbourne School Hall Check out the website to download a full program and location map. http://www.duffieldartsfestival.com/

Exhibition News

Views from the Derwent Valley Cromford Mill Oct 23 - Nov 3

This is an exhibition I have been working towards for two years I have spent a lot of time researching this wonderful world heritage site from top to bottom and this has resulted in twenty-two large scale paintings that pick out some of the key sites along the route. There is an illustrated talk that has been organized in conjunction with the Mill and a world heritage specialist it would be lovely if you could come along but you will need to book in advance details below:

I have a limited edition desk calendar that accompanies the exhibition featuring 13 images from the show £19 including postage, to order one please pay here https://www.paypal.me/ruthgray/19 and I will contact you for your address details and post straight away.

Also in October I have a small exhibition of my work at Sutton Bonington Gallery showing my works on paper, the gallery is open Thursday to Sunday 11-5pm and is now home to a fabulous café where freshly ground coffee, loose leaf tea, light lunches and locally made cakes are served. http://www.suttonboningtongallery.com/

Thank you for taking time to read my news and for taking an interest in my work.

Ruth.