Radius 7.0.1 – Paint the Town

Artist

Ruth Leigh

is an award-winning figurative painter, writer, and arts facilitator based in the Perth Hills, Western Australia. Her work is inspired by social interactions, the diverse landscapes, and the rich cultural histories of Western Australia. Ruth has over a decade of experience working across regional and Indigenous arts programs, developing deep expertise in community-based arts practice, mentorship, and creative collaboration.

A former resident of Port Hedland, Ruth regularly returns to the Pilbara, drawn by its unique beauty and strong sense of community. Her practice often explores portraiture as a means of capturing not only visual likenesses but the stories, experiences, and individuality of her subjects. Ruth’s work has been widely exhibited across Western Australia and is celebrated for its sensitivity, engagement with local communities, and commitment to fostering creative expression.

Biography and Artwork Images supplied by the Artist

Paint the Town brings together a series of portraits created during Ruth Leigh’s artist residency at The Courthouse Gallery in late February and early March 2025. Over this period, members of the Port Hedland community were invited to sit with Ruth either for live sketch sessions or through photographs and, just as importantly, to share their stories.

Each portrait in the exhibition grew from these encounters. The resulting works are more than visual likenesses; they are responses to the lives and experiences that have shaped each individual. Many of the participants’ words appear alongside the portraits, sometimes in their own handwriting allowing voice and image to stand together.

A former Port Hedland resident, Ruth has returned regularly to the Pilbara over the past decade, drawn by its unique beauty and strong sense of community. Paint the Town is both a celebration and a tribute, honouring the strength, diversity, and individuality at the heart of Port Hedland.