Sula Rubens ARWS
Sula Rubens studied at Central/St. Martin’s School of Art (BA Hons Fine Art), where she was influenced by working practices and theories of artist/tutors – Tricia Gillman, Alan Reynolds, Norman Ackroyd, Anthony Whishaw and Cecil Collins. Since graduating in 1989, she has practised as a painter and printmaker, living, working and exhibiting in many countries (including Gdansk, Poland; Amsterdam, Holland; Ireland, Greece and Spain).
Several prestigious appointments as Artist in Residence are reflected in her work to date. She has collaborated with artists, poets & musicians nationally & internationally.
Sula Rubens work is represented in public and private collections in this country and abroad, including The Royal Watercolour Society Diploma Collection, Leicestershire Collection for Schools and Colleges and the Town Council of Amsterdam. Residencies include the Westerkerk in Amsterdam, the South Lookout Tower on Aldeburgh beach and Potton Hall Recording Studio in Suffolk. In 2014 she was appointed as the first Artist in Residence at The Michaelhouse in Cambridge.
In 2019 Sula was elected by the Royal Watercolour Society to become an Associate Member.
Wherever Sula Rubens is, close observation through drawing is integral to her work. She tends to work in series that evolve from her response to the circumstances she encounters.
Selected Exhibitions
2020
Gallery East, People & Places Woodbridge, Suffolk
Shortlisted for the Castlegate Prize, Castlegate House Gallery, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Regular Exhibitions as an Associate Member of the Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside Gallery, London
Borders – Firstsite Gallery, Colchester, Essex
Drawn to the Line – Piers Feetham Gallery, London
2019
Elected by the Royal Watercolour Society to become an Associate Member (ARWS)
Selected for The Contemporary Watercolour Competition Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
Gallery East, Stillness Woodbridge, Suffolk
Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
2018
Solo Exhibition – Kin Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
Chappel Galleries, Essex
Anna Airy Memorial Award Winners Exhibition Ipswich Art Gallery
Musicians Snape Gallery, Aldeburgh Festival Suffolk
Southwold Arts Festival, Southwold, Suffolk
The School House Gallery, Wighton, Norfolk (since 1997)
Short listed for the Exhibition of The Sir John Hurt Art Prize, Holt Festival 2018 Norfolk
Selected for The Black Swan Arts Open 2018, Frome, Somerset
Print Exhibition, Craftco, Southwold, Suffolk
2017
Selected for the Exhibition of the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Award 2017 Piano Nobile, Kings Place, London
Mandells Gallery, Norwich – Seeing Through Drawing – A Celebration of John Berger
Burgh House, Hampstead, London – “Coast to Coast”
Museum of National Pastime Collection commission Casey at the Bat San Mateo, California, U.S.A
Southwold Arts Festival, Southwold, Suffolk
2016
Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich – A Figurative Presence
Hamburg Altonale, Germany
Southwold Arts Festival, Southwold Suffolk
The Merchant House Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk
2015
Southwold Arts Festival, Southwold, Suffolk
Since 2003 Fry Gallery, Saffron Walden (Annual Exhibition-invited artist)
2014
Michaelhouse Residency Exhibition – solo exhibition at the Michaelhouse, Cambridge
Ghosts of Gone Birds project and exhibition, Aldeburgh Beach Lookout, Caroline Wiseman Modern & Contemporary
Belgrave St Ives Modern & Contemporary, Cornwall
Cricketers & Musicians, Craftco, Southwold Suffolk
2013
Potton Hall Residency Exhibition – solo exhibition
Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
Cambridge City Art Fair (Mandell’s Gallery)
Belgrave St. Ives Modern & Contemporary, Cornwall
RE + New, Woodbridge, Suffolk (since 2010)
The School House Gallery, Wighton, Norfolk (since 1997)
2012
Belgrave St. Ives Modern & Contemporary, Cornwall
Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
South Lookout Tower Residency & Exhibition Caroline Wiseman Modern & Contemporary, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
2011
Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
RE + New, Woodbridge, Suffolk (since 2010)
School House Gallery, Wighton, Norfolk (since 1997)
Pictures at an Exhibition Installation of Paintings to accompany Libor Novocek’s performance at Potton Hall, Suffolk
i2 Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex
2010
Craftco, Southwold, Suffolk
2008
Halesworth Festival, The Cut – invited artist alongside Margaret Mellis
2007
Angela Mellor Gallery, Ely
2005
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Piers Feetham Gallery, London
2004
Halesworth Gallery – solo exhibition
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge – solo exhibition
2003
School House Gallery, Wighton, Norfolk – solo exhibition
2002
Babylon Gallery, Ely
2001
North House Gallery, Manningtree, Essex – solo exhibition
1998
Heffers Gallery, Cambridge
1997
Union of Artists, Blue Hall Gallery, St Petersburg, Russia
First Site Gallery, The Minories, Colchester
1996
Gainsborough House, Sudbury, Drawings for All
1995
Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art Gallery, Eastleigh – prize winner
1994
De Muserije, Museum of Den Bosch, Holland – solo exhibition
1993
Europe Prize for Painting, Ostend – finalist
1992
Brett Gallery, Hadleigh, Suffolk – solo exhibition
1991
Trumpington Gallery, Cambridge – solo exhibition
1990
The Laing Collection Exhibition (toured)
1989
London Contemporary Arts, Chelsea Harbour, London
1986-9
St Martin’s School of Art. (B.A. Honours Degree) Influenced by working practices and theories of artist/tutors – Tricia Gillman, Alan Reynolds, Norman Ackroyd, Anthony Whishaw and Cecil Collins
Publications
Who’s who in Art – Artists in Britain since 1945, David Buckman (2006)
Awards
Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art National Prize:1995
Winsor & Newton Young Watercolourist Award: 1992
New English Art Club/Marks & Spencer Award: 1991
The Anna Airey Memorial Award for Painting: 1989, 1990, 1991
Winsor & Newton/Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ Young Artists’ Award: 1989