Ruth Gillbanks is an abstract expressionist landscape painter and highly experienced Fine Art tutor with over 30 years’ experience as both a practising artist and educator. Living on the edge of the Mendips, she draws inspiration from the rural landscapes and coastlines of the UK, creating expressive, immediate work rooted in observation, movement and emotional response to place.
Ruth’s practice is shaped by her background in ceramics, holding a BA (Hons) in Ceramics from Bristol, which informs her painterly approach — her gestural brushstrokes and layered surfaces often echo the qualities of glaze, with a recurring interplay between rough and smooth textures. Whether painting en plein air or in the studio, she pulls on all her senses to interpret the landscape in an instinctive and personal way.
Alongside her professional practice, Ruth has taught Fine Art for 27 years and is currently Head of Faculty for Visual Arts in a large Bristol secondary school. She is known for her supportive, inspiring teaching style, encouraging students to experiment freely while building strong technical foundations. Ruth believes painting should be joyful, personal and expressive, and her workshops aim to help students find their own creative voice while gaining confidence and deeper understanding of their practice.
