Ruth Martin is an illustrator, designer and printmaker.  Whether drawing, painting or rubber relief print, her work is full of wit and whimsy.  Ruth publishes a range of hand-finished greetings cards and limited edition artists’ books alongside working to commission.  Her books, cards, illustrations and other curios all invite you enter a world of cheesy puns and old-world charm.

 

Ruth’s work has been exhibited and sold in galleries and shops throughout the UK and abroad.  Her work is also held in the collection of Tate Britain.

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Selected Exhibitions

2023 ‘Making Waves’ Artist Book Makers Annual Exhibition - Upright Gallery, Edinburgh

2022 International Original Print Exhibition - Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, London

2021 Town House Open - Town House Spitalfields

2021 A Letter in Mind, Making Your Mark

2019 Gallery@Oxo – A Letter in Mind, Making Light Work

2018 Royal Academy of Arts – Summer Exhibition

2017 Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

2016 The Society of Bookbinders, London & South Region Book Arts Day 

2013 Canterbury Print Fair  (Winner of The Print Block Prize)

2012 Royal Academy of Arts – Summer Exhibition

2012 Forge 2 - Small is Beautiful

2011 The Mind’s Eye - York

2010 V&A Museum of Childhood – The Doll Project

2009 Price Tower Arts Center, Oklahoma, USA – UK/OK Exploring Traditions in Contemporary Design

2007 Manchester Craft and Design Centre - Paper

2007 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists - Paperworks

2006-2007 Bilston Craft Gallery – A magical Christmas

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Shows/Fairs

UK Fine Press Book Fair - Oxford

Society of Bookbinders Book Arts Day - London

Turn the Page - Norwich

The London Art Book Fair - Whitechapel Gallery

The Small Publishers Fair – London

LAB – The ICA, London

BABE – The Arnolfini, Bristol

Manchester Artist Book Fair

Leeds Artist Book Fair

Glasgow Artist Book Fair

CODEX Book Fair, San Francisco

 

Ruth has also exhibited at the Craft Council’s ‘Origin’ craft fair, Country Living Fair and The Artworkers Guild Fair and at trade fairs such as Pulse,

Top Drawer and PG Live.

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Teaching/Workshops

Ruth is a visiting lecturer on BA and MA programmes.  She has taught at the following institutions:

University of Suffolk

Chelsea College of Arts -UCA

Coventry University

Colchester School of Art

Middlesex University

University for the Creative Arts at Maidstone

London Metropolitan University

Canterbury Christ Church University

Staffordshire University

Amersham & Wycombe College

Plymouth College of Art

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Ruth has also run workshops for young people and for educators.

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Public Collections

Tate Britain

University of the Arts London – Chelsea College of Art and Design

University of the Arts London – London College of Communication

Coventry University - ​Lanchester Library

University for the Creative Arts 

University of Westminster

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Education & qualifications

2001-2003  University of Brighton

                    MA Sequential Design/Illustration

 

2000-2001  Chelsea College of Art and Design

                    BTEC Professional Development in Design- Book Illustration

 

1986-1988  Epsom School of Art & Design

                    HND Design Crafts- Jewellery

 

1985–1986  Weston-Super-Mare College (School of Art and Drama)

                     Art Foundation