Five things you didn’t know about artist Rue Stanley

In Rue’s Studio at Tattenham corner, Epsom

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: 2nd,3rd,10th,17th,24th 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 £6.

Open Studio- Rue Stanley Art Studio- Cherrycroft, Tattenham Crescent (opp no 101) Epsom Downs KT18 5NR. Email: ruestanleyart@gmail.com. Website: www.ruestanleyart.com

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Open Studio in October 2021

I am opening my studio in Epsom again this October.

Open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday the 2nd, Sundays 3rd,10th,17th and 24th of October.

You can buy small original artworks from £12 and larger works from £95-£600.

Click here for more details: Exhibitions

I look forward to meeting you and showing you my work.

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New Works

Dead Celebs Clothes 18”x22” 

Back on the bus, we stopped at the now defunct Route 66 museum. In the carpark was an old boat with a sign on the side- Vintage-Dead Celebs Clothes 1682 street. However, I didn’t go into the shop, but I thought of those clothes and tried to imagine all those dead celebs and what they might have worn and thrown away. I have created their clothes from painted paper, acrylics and acetate. Their clothes loom ghostlike over the carpark. As anyone who has ever been to a carboot sale may concur- “it’s all junk in the end

 

Mohave Desert 47x47cm framed £239.00 (sold)

In 2018, I went on a road trip around California. We had some early starts
and late nights… For a few days we travelled through the Mojave desert. My painting was inspired by an early morning on the bus as the sun rose over the desert it turned red and gold. The foundation for the painting is an old a street map of the town of Mohave. This provided a framework to explore the natural patterns created by the streets and avenues and the colours were informed by those of the desert. The work was created using acrylics and tar gel and involved pouring a lot of paint and water to get the effects desired.

Both works will be on sale at Denbies from the 16th December. Hand embellished prints are available of Dead Celebs. These can be purchased at the exhibition till Sunday 22nd December 2019

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