Ruth Cox

Ruth Cox is a painter and studio holder at Haarlem Artspace, working from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Working predominantly in oils on canvas, her practice is rooted in a fascination with the natural world and the sense of mystery and wonder it contains. Rather than simply recording what she sees, Cox looks beyond the visible world, exploring the stories, possibilities and hidden connections that can be found within nature. Her paintings occupy a space between observation and imagination, inviting the viewer to look more closely at the world around them.

Science and mythology are important influences on Cox’s work, providing contrasting but complementary ways of understanding the natural world. She brings these ideas together through painting, creating works that suggest something beyond the immediately visible — a sense of the mysterious, ancient and unexplained within the everyday landscape. Her work reflects an enduring curiosity about our relationship with nature and the different ways we attempt to understand it.