Ruth Shelley
Meet Ruth Shelley
Ruth Shelley grew up in a mountainous area of mid Wales, where she was surrounded by inspiring landscapes. She studied Woven Textiles at the Dyfed College of Art, after which she started her own textile business. She moved to glass after a period spent exploring India and South-East Asia researching colour and textiles. Ruth won the Glass Sellers Award at the British Glass Biennale in 2015. She exhibits widely nationally and internationally and has been awarded several Training and Project Grants by the Welsh Arts Council.
Ruth's unique process involves fusing layered glass strips into sheets, which are then suspended and heat-stretched to create fluid forms. These are further refined through cutting, polishing, and sandblasting. Her work, influenced by extensive travels and a deep connection to nature, transforms observations of light, form, and colour into evocative pieces. Each vessel serves as a visual travelogue, capturing the essence of landscapes and memories in a harmonious blend of transparency and opacity.
