Hawthorn Tree Floor before installation.
Ruth Wilkinson Mosaic Artist
A little bit about me and what I do…….
I’ve been practicing the art and creation of mosaics for over 20+ yrs. What started as a small interest, and almost by chance, soon became a large obsession…… mosaic tends to draw you in in that way ! So after many years honing the technique I am now a full time professional mosaic artist living and working in Pateley Bridge in the heart of Nidderdale, North Yorkshire.
I studied art and design many years ago and after a few years of going in a different direction I returned to my creative roots in the medium of mosaic. I took a short evening class to learn the basics and later followed by an intensive course in Ravenna, Italy. The latter was to learn a more traditional Byzantine style method using glass smalti and a hammer and hardie, a traditional tile cutting tool using a chisel head and hammer. After these two different introductions I continued to develop on my own, playing, experimenting and getting a feel for the medium and watching my personal style evolve.
There’s always an endless source of inspiration surrounding us so the style of my work is constantly changing. Inspiration has come from various places, usually based in nature and the natural world, the ever changing colours, forms and landscapes never cease to ignite something deep within. I’ve had the great fortune to have traveled to many countries around the world, and hopefully many more to come. I consider India to be my second home, a place that has been in my soul since the first time I landed in my twenties. A lot of past works have had a direct link to India and the people and no doubt will continue to do so.
Up until very recently I’ve worked in mainly a 2d format, whether this was a framed image for interior walls or a decorative and functional piece for an interior or exterior floor, I am now being pulled towards the 3d form. My current work, yet to be introduced and exhibited, is a deeper connection to the living world around us. After creating a rock form or vessel with an indentation in its body, a smooth stone is placed in it as part of the overall piece. The idea is to pick up the stone and connect to its source whilst connecting to the piece itself. These will be for viewing later this year.
I tend to work with minimal materials rather than a large variety, I prefer the simplicity. Predominantly the matt, unglazed porcelain for the more subtle and muted tones, gold, bronze and silver leaf for certain highlights and the smallest amount of glass tesserae to lift certain areas within the image. I feel these are enough to fit the style I’m most drawn to at the moment.