Exhibition features animal art
New work by renowned Scottish animal artist Ruth Slater will go on show at Tighnabruaich Gallery on Saturday September 8.
The exhibition is inspired by Ruth’s knowledge of animal movements and behaviours and her quest to translate this into art work which captures the essence of her subject matter.
Ruth is a dynamic, Scottish animal artist creating unique work in various media from her purpose-built studio on Bute’s west coast.
Ruth’s art captures the gorgeous nature of the creatures she is so fascinated by. She lives and works on Bute with her husband and two young children along with a collection of animals.
Ruth trained at Edinburgh College of Art and graduated with an honours degree in sculpture in 1997. She also trained and worked as a secondary school art teacher until 2015.
In 2017, Tighnabruaich Gallery invited Ruth to create work exploring her subject matter, materials and methods. The Very Essence is the visually stunning outcome of that year’s work.
Ruth said: ‘Drawing animals and representing their form is something which brings me enormous pleasure. I like to watch the animals in their natural state, gaining knowledge of their movement and behaviour. This, in turn, informs my representation of them as I aim to capture their essence. I start by using a handbound sketchbook, playing with mixed media, colour and texture. The sketchbook allows me to plan final artworks without pressure. My techniques include the use of artificial hair and acrylic inks to capture the texture of the animals and birds. This allows for a spontaneous, and sometimes, unexpected result.’