Artists Statement
Ruth Heaton explores painting as an expanded practice and her work is informed by architectural structures, interior design and small objects of interest that resonate with her life. Site visits, reference material. and photography are sources from which ideas and a plan of work is formulated to produce a body of work. Symmetry, repetition and a limited colour palette are consistent methods in her practice.and classical architecture often informs this in terms of composition and context. She attempts to visualise her response to the palpable weight of history and artisanship within these enduring structures. The combination of history and technique provides an anchor for her practice.
CV
Location
Born in Greater Manchester but now lives in and works from her home studio West Yorkshire
Education
MFA (distinction) (2020-2022) West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and University of Sussex
Graduate Diploma in Fine Art (2019-2020) West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and University of Sussex
Diploma in Art and Contemporary craft (distinction) (2017-2019) West Dean College of Arts and Conservation
PGCE teaching and learning in higher education (2013) University of Bolton
MSc Advancing Clinical Practice (2005) University of Huddersfield
PGDip. Counselling (2005) University of Leeds
BA. Forensic care (2000) Sheffield Hallam University
BSc. Health Care studies (1994) University of Huddersfield
Professional bodies
FHEA- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Curation
Curator-Village Art-Shat gallery, Huddersfield. September 2023-present
Curation and installation assistance at artist led Fronteer gallery in Sheffield January 2023-present
Exhibitions
Upcoming
April 25- Elevation-Huddersfield
May 25- Satellite-Fronteer gallery, Sheffield
June25-Simulcast, Fronteer gallery, Sheffield
Solo exhibitions
2025- Cathedral -Prosaic 97 projects gallery, Bloc studio’s. Sheffield
2024- short to the eye long in the mind, Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery, Redcar and Cleveland
2022- A Better Sky, West Dean House, West Sussex
2021- Triangulation and Black Spring, West Dean House, West Sussex
Two and three person exhibitions including curation
2024 Eye Shadows, Fronteer, Sheffield (curated by Ruth Heaton)
2024-Colour Counterpoint, Assembly House, Leeds (co-curation)
2023- Landworks, Jack House Gallery, Portsmouth (co-curation)
2023- Underfoot- working and walking the land, Gage Gallery, Sheffield ( co-curation)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025- Jammyboree-Bloc projects gallery, Sheffield
2025- A Bell is a jar until it is struck -Bloc projects gallery, Sheffield
2025-Beep painting prize- School of art gallery, Aberystwyth University
2024- Peppercorn-Minstrel gallery, Bloc studios, Sheffield
2024- feb 25 Ty Pawb biennial open-Ty Pawb gallery, Wrexham
2024- Beep painting prize -Elysium gallery, Swansea
2024 -Emerging artists- Exhibition gallery Skipton town hall
2024- Higher Bandwidth, Shat Gallery, Huddersfield (curated by Ruth Heaton)
2024-Colour, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
2023- Fronteer gallery Open, Sheffield
2023- Sightseeing tour- Prosaic97, Sheffield
2023- Sightseeing, Platformshms, Platforms, Athens
2023- Urban jungle, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
2023- D31 Art Prize, D31 Gallery, South Yorkshire
2022- Any Day Now, The Copeland Gallery, London
2022- Rooted, Outdoor sculpture exhibition, Sussex Prairie gardens, Henfield, West Sussex
2021- Bounce, The Copeland Gallery, London
2021 and 2022- Summer Shows, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, West Sussex
2020- Fine Art Summer show, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, West Sussex
2019- Recovery and Transitions, University of Salford, Greater Manchester (curator of group exhibition involving students work alongside own work)
2018-Calderdale Open, Bankfield Museum, West Yorkshire
Public collections
University of Salford
Publications
Cover illustration for Story Breaking -West Dean Anthology MA Creative Writing (2021)
Beep painting prize anthology
Teaching
(2015-2021) Lecturer in Mental health Nursing-University of Salford
(2013-2015) Associate lecturer/ practitioner in Mental health Nursing- University of Salford
(2011-2013) Honorary Lecturer- University of Salford
Employment
Last NHS post-Deputy Director of Nursing and Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Manchester (2008-2015)
Lecturer- University of Salford (2015-2020)
CONTACT
Email ruthheaton.rh@gmail.com
Instagram @rutheheaton