Ruth Chalmers

Ruth was born in Dundee and studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art from 1998-2002 graduating with BDes Hon (first class). Her Specialist areas were jewellery, toys, automata and illustration.In 2002, she received the Dundee Visual Artists Award Scheme, development award, the Rattray Award, The Strathearn Gallery Award, and Sponsorship from August Seven Ltd., Architects. Ruth exhibits in many Exhibitions throughout Britain and in Germany.

"I am obsessed with times past, images and memories of family life - domestic rituals, childhood pastimes and especially the often-comical antics of animals, particularly pets.These sources are translated quite literally and are united by themes of movement and play. These themes allow me to make jewellery that can be played with and moved about like a toy, objects that move, quirky machines and pop - ups which perform like miniature theatres. I hope that because of the gentle imagery and intended use of comedy and familiarity, these interactions are not intimidating to the viewer, rather encouraging the fact that they are to react with.I also explore through my pieces the fact that although we may like to deny it, adults play as children do, and we yearn for past times and toys from our childhood, or the things that we wished childhood to be. Hopefully my pieces cry out to be played and interacted with both by children and adults alike.I imagine the perfect reaction to my work as one of nostalgia, the awkward middle-aged man daring to turn a handle, or a simple "Do you remember these?", " I'm sure I had one of those"."