Biography

INSPIRATION 

Working in porcelain, Ruth Gibson combines a love of photography, printmaking and ceramics, to evoke a sense of place; in particular the Shropshire landscape and the Welsh coast and mountains. Inspired by many walks on the rugged Stiperstones, or the Long Mynd, imagery includes winter trees, textures in nature, birds in flight, the rocks beneath the surface, and the inclusion of sections on map, rooting the work to the place it is inspired by. Ancient standing stones found scattered across the Shropshire and Welsh hills are echoed in the shapes of the ceramic pieces.

Utilising photography and ceramic printing techniques allows for photo realism to be combined with more abstract mark making to build up layers of images. Once screen-printed the clay can be stretched over molds, the print can be distorted, or small sections can be added or removed to create abstract patterns. The work is enhanced by the addition of glazes used in a painterly style. Through this ceramic artwork, I am interested in conveying the peace and contemplative qualities which one can experience when immersed in the natural environment.  I am inspired by ceramics from the far East and my work aspires to resonate the qualities of Japanese and Zen styles. I seek to enhance the qualities of porcelain and to reflect nature; the whiteness of a perfectly round pebble, the seemingly scratched patterns found in stones and the smoothness of sea-worn shells inform the design and surface quality.

BACKGROUND

I have been self-employed  as an artist for over 30 years. Having run a successful designer/maker hand made gift business for 15 years, I went back to study at the age of 35 and graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Ceramics and Sculpture in 2003. 

I have taught Ceramics at the University of Wolverhampton on the Applied Arts degree, also covering Professional Practice and Creative Industry modules with final year degree students, as well as ceramic techniques to all levels. I lead workshops in ceramics, ceramics and print, and deliver workshops and talks in schools and colleges to all ages and levels of ability.

 I welcome new invitations to deliver talks and ceramic demos to groups and colleges.

Over the last 15 years I have been involved in Public Art, Sculpture and Project Management, working with bricks and ceramics, and have been an Arts Council funded artist. I have been involved in a wide variety of projects as joint lead artist and project manager of Benchart, our public art company based in Shrewsbury. 

Ruth Gibson Ceramics exhibits widely throughout galleries in the UK and at National  Ceramic Shows and events such at 'Earth and Fire' and 'Art in Clay', and International Ceramics Biennial at Aberystwyth.