Profile

Photo: Nine Photos

Inspiration

Ruth Singer creates detailed and intriguing textile artworks inspired by historical textiles, museum objects, personal heritage, memory and stories. She uses natural and recycled textiles combined with hand stitching as well as fabric manipulation techniques to create detailed surface texture. Recently she has incorporated photography, experimental dyeing and found objects into her work, and has also developed exhibition pieces working in paper. Many of her techniques are developed from the study of historical textiles, based on her own research and first career in museums.

Ruth mainly works on exhibition projects, often in collaboration with communities, museums or other artists. In 2010 she created her first public commission for Derby Museums inspired by their African collections and in 2012 she made a series for Shire Hall Gallery based on Victorian photographs of criminals, which have been purchased for the gallery's collection. Ruth's personal work includes the series Monumental Folly which explores love and the sense of place associated with a particular building, which recently won the Craftspace Prize at Unit Twelve Contemporary Craft Open. She has recently created an installation piece in collaboration with weaver Jan Garside and a collection of objects with jeweller Alys Power. She also exhibits and sells smaller-scale work suitable for the home.

Career development

Ruth's first career was in museums. She has degrees in Medieval Studies and Museum Studies and worked in education and curatorial roles for 8 years. In 2005 she set up her textiles practice and freelance teaching and writing career.

Ruth was selected by the Crafts Council as one of the best new makers of the year for Springboard at Origin 2006 and was selected to show independently in 2007 and 2008. She has received funding and support from Creative Leicestershire, The Arts Council, Design Factory, University College of the Creative Arts, Find Your Talent and Brighton and Hove City Council. Ruth has been described as having 'an enviable talent for textile manipulation' Rachel Chambers, Craft and Design Magazine, 2007, and her aesthetic has been celebrated in both the contemporary craft scene and the textile world, earmarked as 'a modern heirloom in the making' Lara Sargent, Daily Mail, 2008.

Writing

Ruth also designs a range of projects for books and magazines and has written three sewing books, Sew It Up (2008), Sew Eco (2010), and Fabric Manipulation (2013). She is a passionate and inspiring educator, specialising in working with adults and community groups, collaborating with museums and in developing innovative and challenging creative projects. Ruth has worked with a wide-range of audiences through her museum and textiles career including schools, families, targeted communities and young people.

Ruth Singer Studio

In January 2012 Ruth Singer won The Big Idea competition run by Leicester's Haymarket Shopping Centre. The competition aimed to find a new local entrepreneur and help them start a new business. Ruth's proposal for Ruth Singer Studio, a craft and making workshop venue, won the competition. Ruth had to submit a written proposal, present to a panel of judges and then win the popular vote online. Ruth Singer Studio won £1000 cash prize and a month of rent-free space in a shop unit within The Haymarket Centre during April 2012. This launch event was a great success and over 100 people took part in activities in the Studio. The studio is now based at Makers' Yard, a new studio complex in a converted hosiery factory in Leicester's cultural quarter. Ruth Singer Studio offers a range of beginner and advanced sewing workshops including Ruth's trademark fabric manipulation techniques as well as craft parties, private tuition and much more.