About the Artist
Ruth Reid - Artist Statement, Biography, CV and Awards
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Ruth Reid Art - Southern Landscapes (Kaitoi o ngā Whenua Tonga)
I paint landscapes in oils for people who love the beauty of Aotearoa/New Zealand so that they can live with the reminder of our stunning wilderness places.
Website: RuthReidArt.com
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:
ARTIST of Southern Landscapes
KAITOI o ngā Whenua Tonga
When Ruth Reid stands before her easel, either in her studio or on location (en plein air) in the wilderness landscapes she loves so much, she creates a unique outcome every time but her aspiration is consistent – to share New Zealand’s stunning and pristine landscapes as seen through her eyes.
Her switch from a professional teaching career to that of an artist could be described as a silver lining following the Canterbury earthquakes – a wake-up call to not wait any longer to explore what she hoped one day to pursue.
Ruth is New Zealand born with a rural background near Geraldine and Timaru. Her family was fairly self-reliant at a time when it was considered to be necessary and normal. They owned a Kiwi bach (a simple and rustic New Zealand holiday home) at a local river with an outdoor hand-operated water pump and no electricity. This formed the basis of her enduring love of the simple life, self-sufficiency and for the fabulous New Zealand outdoors. She is, however, well-travelled (including international artist residencies), has spent time living abroad and now lives near the beach in Christchurch.
As a skier, tramper (hiker) and camper (a small campervan) Ruth loves adventures in the mountains, the bush and the roads less-travelled. She is passionate about painting and exploring wilderness areas of New Zealand/Aotearoa.
Ruth is a national and international award-winning artist. Her artwork is exhibited both throughout New Zealand (including our Parliament buildings) and internationally (New York, France and Venice). Media coverage includes radio, newspaper, television, magazine articles, international documentary and social media platforms.
Ruth most enjoys painting large panoramic landscapes in thick, luscious, oils. She also paints smaller artworks using pure pigment pastels.
Ruth’s artworks are available at shows throughout New Zealand, through several galleries and in her own studio/gallery. She can be contacted easily via her website: www.RuthReidArt.com
or join her newsletter list to be kept up-to-date with her newest paintings and exhibitions: Click here for link to join Email Newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthReidArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RuthReidArt
CV - EXHIBITIONS, SHOWS, RESIDENCIES & AWARDS:
... 2009: Career in the field of education, firstly as a teacher and secondly as a school principal
2009: Group exhibition at the Cloisters Gallery, in the old Art Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand
2010: SOLO - First solo exhibition highlighting the need to protect our National Parks in Christchurch, NZ
First major earthquake hits the Canterbury region 'enabling' the leaving of a securely paid job to become a full-time artist
2011: SOLO - New Brighton Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
SOLO - 'The Great Outdoors' at the New Brighton Gallery, Chch NZ
2012: Nut Point Gallery Exhibition, Selwyn District, NZ
Art@Burnside Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
2013: Full-time art career underway. Website set up and goals planned, including 100 Paintings in 100 Days from June to September!
Nut Point Gallery Exhibition, Selwyn District, NZ
Celebrating the Arts Exhibition, Arts Canterbury, NZ
Rangiora Art Society, Rangiora, NZ
SOLO - '100 Paintings in 100 Days Exhibition!', Ruth Reid Art Gallery, New Brighton, Christchurch, NZ
2014: The Art Station Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
SOLO - Colour in Your Life, Television documentary filmed in my studio and now showing worldwide!
Arts Canterbury, Canterbury, NZ
Art Expo Nelson, NZ
2015: The Art Station Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
Nut Point Gallery, Selwyn, NZ
Arts Canterbury, Waimakariri, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Ashburton Society of Arts, Ashburton, NZ
Art Expo Nelson, NZ
2016: The Art Station Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
Manhattan Arts International, New York, USA
NZ Parliament Exhibition, Wellington, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Ashburton Society of Arts, Ashburton, NZ
CURATED Exhibition, Manhattan, New York, USA - 'The Healing Power of Art'
Chch Art Show, Christchurch, NZ
SOLO - New Brighton Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
Art Expo Nelson, Nelson, NZ
Orion Gallery, Summer Exhibition, Akaroa, NZ
2017: The Art Station Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
Art on Tyne, Oamaru Gallery, NZ
Montery Gallery, Howick, Auckland, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Christchurch Art Show, Christchurch, NZ
SOLO - Methven Gallery, Methven, NZ
Art Expo Nelson, Nelson, NZ
Dunedin Art Show, Dunedin, NZ
SOLO - Tait Gallery, Hanmer Springs, NZ
Orion Gallery - Summer Exhibition, Akaroa, NZ
Geraldine Arts Festival, South Canterbury, NZ
2018: Artworks chosen for the Morant Foundation juried exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
International Exhibition, Venice, Italy
Tait Gallery, Hanmer Springs, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Christchurch Art Show, NZ
RAS Spring Exhibition, Rangiora, NZ
St Margarets College Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Hohepa Canterbury Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Dunedin Art Show, Dunedin, NZ
Geraldine Arts Festival, South Canterbury, NZ
2019: Nut Point Gallery, Selwyn, NZ
Tait Gallery, Hanmer Springs, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Christchurch Art Show, NZ
Arts Canterbury Ryman Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Dunedin Art Show, Dunedin NZ
Geraldine Festival, South Canterbury, NZ
2020: NZ Art Show, online exhibition (online because of covid 19)
Christchurch Art Show, online exhibition
Auckland Art Show, online exhibition
St Margaret's College Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Geraldine Arts Festival, South Canterbury, NZ
Dunedin Art Show, Dunedin, NZ
2021: NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Christchurch Art Show, NZ
Hohepa Canterbury Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Dunedin Art Show, Dunedin, NZ
2022: Christchurch Art Show, NZ
St Margaret's College Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Ashburton Art Show, NZ
Geraldine Arts Festival, NZ
Hohepa Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
Arts Canterbury Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
2023: Christchurch Art Show, NZ
Auckland Art Show, NZ
Ashburton Art Show, NZ
Geraldine Arts Festival, NZ
Arts Canterbury Open Studios Event, Christchurch, NZ
2024: Christchurch Art Show, NZ
Wellington Art Show, NZ
Ashburton Art Show, NZ
Auckland Art Show, NZ
Orquevaux Exhibition, France
Queenstown Art Show, NZ
Geraldine Festival, NZ
2025: Wellington Art Show, NZ
Christchurch Art Show, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Arts Canterbury Art Show, Christchurch, NZ
Queenstown Art Show, NZ
Geraldine Festival, NZ
2026: Christchurch Art Show, NZ
NZ Art Show, Wellington, NZ
Auckland Art Show, NZ
Tauranga Art Show, NZ
Queenstown Art Show, NZ
ART QUALIFICATIONS, HONOURS AND AWARDS:
1987: 'Arts Foundation Certificate' from Aoraki Polytechnic, Timaru, New Zealand (art as a career 'on hold' during education career)
2013: Published honour by FASO USA (Fine Art Studios Online) as one of three "Artists to Watch!"
"We at FineArtViews encourage you to learn more about ... Ruth Reid"
2015: ARTIST RESIDENCY - in July, at Arthur's Pass, sponsored by Fi and Pete Neale of Arthur's Pass Motels
2016: - Light, Space & Time International - Abstract Exhibition - Special Merit
- Director of Manhattan Arts International, USA, Renee Phillips said:
"Her paintings are absolutely breathtaking! Her passion shines through." http://www.manhattanarts.com/ruth-reid-painting/
- Special Merit in Landscapes Art Exhibition - Light Space and Time Online Exhibition
- Accepted into 'The Healing Power of Art' Curated Exhibition, Manhattan, New York, USA
- Exhibiting in NZ Parliament
2017 - Painting of 'The Garden of Eden Ice Plateau' voted in as the cover for the Artists of Canterbury guide-book
- SOLO Feature documentary by Annabelle Brewster (from Ara Institute) including painting live at the Christchurch Art
- Art Show and en plein air painting at Little Akaloa, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, NZ
- Four-page feature article in Sept/Oct issue of the New Zealand Artist Magazine
- Painting of 'Mt Oates, Arthur's Pass' chosen as the billboard artwork for Arts Canterbury exhibition
2018 JURIED EXHIBITION - 'New Art', Arts Canterbury, Pumanawa Gallery, Arts Centre, Christchurch
ARTIST RESIDENCY in VENICE, ITALY for month of April, culminating in ...
- Exhibition in VENICE, ITALY
- Rangiora Art Society (Highly Commended Oil)
- Geraldine Arts Festival (People's Choice Award)
- FASO International - selected in the top 15% overall
2019 - 'Studio 205' was set up in the Christchurch CBD
- Geraldine Arts Festival (People's Choice Award)
2020 - ARTIST RESIDENCY on the island of Kefalonia, GREECE (Cancelled on account of Covid.19)
- GUEST ARTIST Geraldine Festival
- Geraldine Festival (First place for Oil or Acrylic painting)
2021 & 2022 - OWNER GALLERY in Christchurch City CBD, NZ
2024 - ARTIST RESIDENCY in Chateaux Orquevaux, FRANCE
- Exhibition in Orquevaux, FRANCE
2025 - Guest Artist, Ashburton Society of Arts, NZ
