OWTSIDE #5 — RUTH FLOWERS

This selection of works chosen by the artist was installed at the OWTSIDE micro-gallery at Community House on 10th September 2026. The works move between personal memory of the artist, local landscape, imagined nature and everyday affirmations. Although each work begins from a different subject, they share an interest in finding significance in ordinary places and experiences. Ruth Flowers said,

“Presented at OWTSIDE, the works sit within a context where art is encountered as part of daily life rather than something separate, distant or reserved for conventional gallery spaces.

“As a local artist I’m particularly chuffed to have my work be displayed this way, in a town that’s helped shape me and my outlook on the world. I feel the gallery’s borderless approach reflects the creative beginnings of Pasmore’s Peterlee, helping normalise contemporary art within the community, making room for local histories, familiar surroundings and personal forms of expression to be seen, valued and discussed.

“I’ve included my illustration ‘1970s Oakerside’. The location is especially meaningful to me because it is close to Pasmore’s Pavilion, a place I love for the way it allows art, nature and ordinary experience to merge. ‘Detritus’ and ‘Gristle’ were both inspired by interactions with local nature.

“Castle Eden Dene is an important source of inspiration, and the changing seasons I encounter while walking there continue to shape my imagery, colour and sense of atmosphere.

“My most recent phase of work ‘Prepared to be surprised’ was made as a visual reminder that good things can be found every day, regardless of their scale. Its direct language, bright colours and handmade lettering allow it to function almost like a personal talisman, an accessible object of encouragement that brings an affirmation into the shared, everyday setting of the OWTSIDE.”

Info:

Ruth Flowers explores a variety of mediums, with a particular focus on ceramics, painting, and textiles. She has more recently become interested in the interplay between traditional craft and digital technology, embracing the possibilities of immersive exploration. Her work often investigates the interactions between two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, emphasising the importance of process and sustained engagement through experimentation and creativity.

Drawing inspiration from themes such as folklore, community, and personal experience, she aims to infuse her work with a sense of childlike expression and wonder whilst still tackling a spectrum of social and environmental anxieties. Through her approach, she strives to recapture the joy and curiosity that defines uninhibited creativity whilst simultaneously inspiring others to tap into their own creative expression.

Artist website: https://www.ruthflowers.co.uk/

Artist instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inky_makes