News - Rue Stanley Art

Five things you didn’t know about artist Rue Stanley

28/09/202101/02/2024Rue

In Rue’s Studio at Tattenham corner, Epsom

Open studio is now closed. You can see new works now at Rue’s Artwork Store

1)How did you start painting? I did O level art at school. I was keen, so I would have other projects such as painting and pottery which I did at a local youth club and the art room at school. While I was working, I would paint a couple of abstract paintings a year. I love colour so these were unsophisticated efforts which were just an excuse to fling paint at the canvas. When I retired, I went to an experimental art class at a local college. This started me off experimenting and developing my skills. I started a painting group at my house for a few friends who encouraged me to start exhibiting.

2) How did you manage to get your first exhibition? I went to Denbies and got to know a fantastic lady called Sue Sheen who said that I could exhibit with her group- First for Art for a small fee. This was in 2018 and I have been exhibiting with her ever since then.

3) Who buys your work? I have sold work at Denbies to people from around Surrey and London, to tourists from Australia, America, and Poland. My work Is eye-catching – it’s bright and tactile. This is because I use acrylic, gold leaf, glass, collage and mixed media.

4) Where do you paint? I started in painting in what used to be my office in my house. I have an antique desk and carpet on the floor- so I had to be careful as acrylic is messy! The antique desk was covered with a plastic tablecloth, and I invested in a daylight bulb lamp. The carpet is now embellished with purple acrylic ink. When I tripped over the lamp and nearly brained myself, I thought it was time to get a studio. Luckily, my husband was quite encouraging, so I decided to build a log cabin at the bottom of the garden and join Open Studios.

What is Open Studios? Surrey ArtistsOpen Studios is organised by the Surrey Artists Open Studios program. It runs in June, and October. Local artists pay a membership fee to join and open their studios to the public. The program markets the artists studios through leaflets and their website. Members of the public can visit the artists studios and see their processes, materials and buy finished works.

Rue Stanley Art (surreyopenstudios.org.uk)

5) When is your studio open, and what will people see? I am opening for 5 days in October at weekends: 2^nd,3^rd,10^th,17^th,24^th October 11-5pm. There is no need to book you can just turn up. I am in Tattenham Crescent so very local.

My work is semi-abstract inspired by the natural world and my travels. No travelling this year so I have travelled in my imagination: my latest collection features a series of abstract landscapes. I have also looked for inspiration in the garden and nature.

At my studio you will see paintings, jewellery & prints created from: collage, acrylic, mediums, glass, gold leaf, watercolour and polymer clay. Original unique artworks are from £20- £800. Plus, prints, jewellery and gifts from

Email: ruestanleyart@gmail.com. Website: www.ruestanleyart.com

Related Images:

In the studio 19th May 2021

19/05/202113/12/2023Rue

18 days to Open studios starts from 6th June 2021

I am delighted to say that Marc the electrician has done a great job! Late starting the carpentry so no storage unit yet….

I decided to move in anyway and have spent some time working on my first project

Varnishing my picture of the Mars Glacier.

I have started a new collage- inspired by the aerial view of glacial fault lines on Mars.

Great news, Sam the carpenter started work today!

Related Images:

In the studio

12/04/202108/10/2024Rue

This week, I have been varnishing hummingbird paintings on my old desk

My old desk is a bit fragile, in my new studio I would like this. Meanwhile…

I am topping up the gravel path down to my new studio

Hummingbird paintings for sale at my open studio in June

Related Images:

Escape to Brazil

08/10/202013/12/2023Rue

I had two luxury holidays booked for this year. Although neither were for really exotic destinations, I was really looking forward to them both as an escape from the day to day activity. Now the day to day activities of going out with friends or to an art gallery feel like luxuries. I have managed to do them occasionally, but not as much as I would like.

So, I decided to escape to Brazil– I was inspired by the story of Antonio Bolivar Salvador from Brazil. Sadly I only knew his story through his obituary in the Economist Magazine.

Antonio Bolivar Salvador Obituary “when he spoke of the Jaguar, lord of the forest, the embodiment of power strength and violence, he would begin to growl deep in his throat. Antonio’s head would move around warily as if he were on the prowl himself. When he mentioned Anaconda the great snake god his hands would slither, swim and twine round each other, getting faster, until still smiling-he might leap from his chair and fling his snake arms around whoever was listening to him.” Extract: The Economist May 30^th 2020

Jaguar, Lord of the Forest. Available as an embellished canvas print.

As a child, I was fascinated by the people of remote places such as Borneo and spent hours in the library reading about them and seeing their pictures. I found a book on Maori myths and legends which was beautifully illustrated and showed people with very defined features and sculptural tattoos. Antonio Bolivar Salvador’s face reminds me of my childhood.

so, I escaped to Brazil in my imagination. I have embellished my paintings with stories of Anaconda and Jaguar Lord of Forest. I researched the butterflies and the birds and included them too.

You too can escape to the place of your choice- the libraries are open, so are the art galleries.

This post was published in 2020