Ruth Howard has worked diligently in the Arts for over 20 years. She has been Secretary of Dartford Art Group since 1992 and has organised an exciting range of Arts-related activities, this among other things, includes weekend visits to Paris for groups of artists, Professional Artist’s demonstrations to audiences in a Theatre environment and has on a number of occasions successfully applied for Grant funding from the Lottery and Local government for the projects she has been involved with. She arranges exhibitions and an exciting range of weekly activities for Dartford Art Group.

Ruth is one of the principals at the What if…? Gallery in Dartford. (www.whatifgallery.co.uk)  This gallery project and concept was instigated in 2006 when unused shops in Dartford Town centre were crying out to be used for the benefit of local artists. Ruth helped set the gallery up and with the aid of some dedicated volunteers, established the art project and has conducted Watercolour Workshops each week since that time, and raised over £5,000 to help maintain the venture. A huge number of people have attended the workshops and learned how to paint with her. The gallery is run completely by volunteers who give their time in the interests of art and not for any personal profit or gain.

The unique “£1 per picture per week scheme” allows all artists, whether professional or amateur, figurative or abstract, traditional or contemporary to take part in this amazing project and display their work for a small fee. Commission rates are the lowest in the United Kingdom, at only 10% on all sold works.

Ruth has been an Artist since the 1980’s and works mainly in watercolour and pastels. She likes to experiment with her medium and finds the journey of painting exciting and therapeutic. With a painterly approach she puts more emphasis on the artistic pursuit and the artist’s manipulation of colour than the completed image.

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