10 Questions with Ruth Egon

Ruth Egon (b.1984, Walsall, UK) was first inspired by art at a very young age, when she saw Vincent van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night’. Here is where her fascination with how art can transport you to another magical place started.

She studied A Level Art and Foundation Degree at Walsall College and went onto Winchester School of Art to earn a degree in Textile Design (print), graduating in 2008. First exhibiting at Walsall Art Gallery at the young age of 19, Ruth went on to show her work at Islington Art and Design Fair, Inverness Museum and Gallery, and Inchmore Gallery, as well as holding a textile exhibit in Paris. Most recently (2022), she has exhibited in New York, at Agora Gallery.

Uplifting and inspiring people through her bold colour palette, she hopes to engage people in their environment and explores nature through a positive and intriguing lens. Taking reference from abstract artists such as Morris Louis, Miro, and Mark Rothko, with the quirky and surrealist sense of humour of Dali, her landscapes are a tapestry of beautiful abstract space and symbolic representations. She is fascinated by natural beauty and the human experience.

English artist Ruth Egon paints opulent tapestries celebrating the beauty of botanical environments. A former textile designer, she constructs rhythmic patterns that dazzle the eye through a process of intuitive paint application and skilled layering, which results in vibrantly colored compositions. Egon collects the subjects of her paintings as she strolls through the gardens and parks of Fife, on the eastern coast of Scotland. She may take deliberate trips to capture local flora or find inspiration in her very own backyard, surrounded by blooming tulips and Oriental poppies. Her favourite time of day is when the sun descends on the horizon, casting dramatic shadows over foliage and flowers; an effect she recreates in her work. The buoyancy of nature fills her with joy, imbuing the canvas with a sense of upliftment and hope. Whether capturing beds of dandelions, a honeybee, or her adorable tuxedo cat, Bonnie, Egon inspires awe and appreciation for our planet and the creatures that inhabit it.

Egon grew up in England, just outside the West Midlands region, and moved to Scotland ten years ago. She studied Art at Walsall College and earned a degree in Textile Design from the Winchester School of Art. Prior to becoming a painter, Egon had a successful career as a textile designer. She exhibited at Première Vision in Paris, the Islington Art and Design Fair, the Inverness Museum and Gallery, and the Inchmore Gallery, to name but a few. Her painting “Indian Summer No. 2” appeared in the 2021 November issue of Vanity Fair UK.

ruthegon.com | @ruth_egon_artist

INTERVIEW

Could you tell us a little more about your background? You are a former textile designer; how did you get started with art, and what helped you become the artist you are today?

I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember. My first visceral art experience was seeing Vincent van Gogh’s Terrace at night, where I felt transported to a loving and magical place. I studied Fine Arts at Walsall Art College but chose textile design at university as I was concerned with making a career from my subject choice. At the time, it seemed more viable to choose design as a career path. I do not doubt that studying printed textiles helped me understand how to use colour and create rhythm in composition and a pleasing aesthetic. 
I got back to my original passion for fine art and painting after becoming dissatisfied with pursuing a textile design career. Something told me to return to my passion and remove all expectations on myself. Listening to my intentions and being authentic with who I am helped me become the artist I am today. It took me a long time to really tap into my own unique creativity and give myself permission to follow my instincts. Reaching a point where I could translate ideas into a pleasing artwork is simply lots of practice. There are many failed paintings that have preceded where I am now.

What do you wish you knew about contemporary art before you got started?

There are no rules to what makes a good piece of contemporary art, and it’s not formulaic. You just have to turn up in the studio, tap into your creative voice and see what happens on the canvas. By virtue of being interested in contemporary life, society, and an artist, this means you have something important to say. 

What experiences shaped your artistic practice and the themes you work on?

I had a challenging childhood, growing up with my father as a single parent, and my older brother, in unusual circumstances. This opened my eyes to the harm that stereotypes can have on people who don’t fit into the typical family dynamic or what people call ‘normal’. This life experience led me to always lean into empathy, be comfortable with unconventional ideas, and celebrate differences. For this reason, I love quirky things and combining contrasting visual references together. 
From an early age, I felt relief in art, transporting me to another place that eased my anxiety. I knew from that moment I wanted to be an artist, and have always felt compelled to create.

Your work is a mix of abstraction and figurative, and your main reference is nature and its colors. Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

Creating joy and uplifting people really motivates me to create artwork. I love natural beauty, and the themes of Botanics and living creatures are a common source of inspiration for me. The variety of life, colours, shapes, and forms in the natural world is a never-ending source of wonder and curiosity. The experience of being within nature is both humbling and awe-inspiring.
I use personal photographs to paint from but put together the composition intuitively. The space between using realism and making up the gaps is where creativity and spontaneity lie. I tend to spend quite a lot of time and thought creating a sense of movement and uplifting rhythm, as well as creating impact with colour palettes. 

You use a vibrant color palette. What do these colors represent for you?

For me, the colors represent vitality, a zest for life, and a positive experience for the viewer. I aim to uplift and inspire with my paintings, as I believe this is contagious and creates a ripple effect that spreads more happiness to others.

What is the most challenging part of your work? And how do you incorporate and mix all these elements together?

As I use bold contrasting colours it can be difficult to find the right balance in the painting. As I do this from intuition, it can take a while to complete a painting. I also layer oil paints to create a vibrant effect, and this takes time and patience to get right.

What are your thoughts on digital presentations, like fairs and exhibitions, for artists? Do you think these are good opportunities? And have you participated in any recently?

I think they can be a good opportunity to showcase work without the risk of damaging artwork in the post. I don’t believe seeing art on a digital screen will ever replace the experience of seeing an artwork in real life, but it does present a good opportunity for artists to gain more exposure. Last year I exhibited with MADS in Milan (during the pandemic), and it was a positive experience.

And what do you think of NFTs? Have you jumped on this trend yet?

I’ve done some investigation into NFTs but decided at the moment it’s not for me. The reason being is the environmental impact that NFTs have due to the computer power needed to sustain the technology. If this changes in the future, it’s something I’d be open to trying.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

Currently, I have a new collection in progress, exploring mixed cultures and questioning the artificial boundaries we draw as people, on countries, people, and cultures. 
Later this year, I’m planning to consign some work to a gallery in Brighton, UK, ‘Liberation Art Gallery’, which promotes mental health conversations through art. A subject close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to working with two very passionate gallery owners.

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you.

Since going back to painting, I have exhibited in New York, Venice, and Milan, and appeared in Vanity Fair. Coming from a very humble background growing up in Walsall, a post-industrial town, the response to my artwork has taken me by storm, but I love hearing about the positive impact my painting has on people’s life experiences. I now live in Dunfermline, Scotland, in a more rural setting. My ambitions are to create art accessible to everyone, and I hope in the future I can bring art exhibitions to people who wouldn’t necessarily walk into a gallery to show them the power of art in an unconventional and welcoming setting.