Ruth Killoran - Painter and Sculptor

Ruth was born and educated in inner city Liverpool.

She studied at Liverpool Art College for 2 years, experimenting with different art forms and
for 3 years at Teesside University, gaining an Honours degree in 3 dimensional design. This
led to a successful career as a commercial interior designer, working in and around London.

Ruth came to live in New Zealand in 2006. A year later she discovered the joy of carving
stone and decided to have a complete career change. She works as a full time artist from
her home studio in Christchurch.

Carving stone has ignited a passion for painting. Her style of painting has developed since
carving stone and both art forms feed off each other. When carving, Ruth likes direct
contact with the stone, carving intuitively by hand, being led by the form and features that
are unique to the material. Her paintings are treated in a similar way, following the flow of
paint, allowing images to appear, and weaving light through her work.

Her inspirations come from observing natural forms such as pebbles, bones, shells and rock
formations. “Each shape is different and I am constantly finding new shapes that I want to
include in my work”.

Ruth is an award winning artist for both her sculpture and painting. She exhibits regularly
and is gaining a reputation for creating distinctive, original work. Both her sculptures and
paintings are displayed in private collections in New Zealand and abroad.

Please see more of her work on her website:- www.stonegrooves.co.nz

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Ruth Killoran is a fluidly energetic artist whose geomorphic Oamaru stone sculptures command
attention. The smoothly textured stone is shaped into seamlessly curvaceous forms which belie
their own weight – an intrinsically difficult task to achieve.

With such creative force applied to stone, the fact that Killoran’s painted works are so deceptive
and intriguing should be no surprise. Interesting watercolour and ink patterns merge into hypnotic
birds, while fluid ink sketches organically morph into themselves – illusion and continuous visual
deception employed by the artist to stimulate and challenge the viewer.

Ruth Killoran is an artist of the calibre we hope always to be able to support: professional,
polished, interesting and just a little bit challenging…

Kirsty Peel (the new Malvern Community Arts Council Chairperson)

The finished pieces.... 

 Work in progress

Previous work...