ABOUT
My name is Ruth. I’m a textile design graduate born-and-bred in England, married to a Sri Lankan, and now living in Toronto. This website is a snapshot of my creative portfolio, capturing my love for weaving, painting and photography.
I am a patient worker, unfazed by tasks that take time to complete. It means that all my fabric reflects the delicate touch of personal handcraft; each portrait is meticulously executed to capture the character of the subject; my photographs frame humble beauty that could easily be missed. I let myself spend hours diligently placing threads into fabric and manipulating them with a crochet hook, and take the long way round to dye my yarns with fruits, vegetables and flowers, to avoid producing harmful chemical waste. I have a deep conviction that the clothes we wear and the textiles in our homes should be sustainably crafted, with the safety and well-being of people and environments considered as a first thought, not an afterthought. My heart sings when I come across ethical brands that celebrate and support their producers instead of squeezing them dry to line an executive pocket. I’d love to run my own social enterprise one day. There are lots of other things I love in life too. I love to sing, cook and draw. I love playing board games with friends, solo sojourns around museums, honest chats and walks with my husband. I love learning about world textiles and new creative processes, putting my laptop away and making something physical with my hands. And I love appreciating the beauty of God’s creation, whether that’s in the rolling English countryside or a Canadian concrete jungle. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries about my work; it’s always a pleasure to chat about what I do. Also, if you are interested in purchasing any of my work or commissioning me to paint a portrait, please get in touch and I can provide a quote. The work on this website represents many days and months of skill and dedication, so I ask, in the greatest faith, that if you want to use my images for any reason, that it be for personal use only (not for profit or publicity) and that you credit me as the artist. Thank you. |
©Ruth Hepburn 2015