Untitled by Ruth Davies

We invited local artist Ruth Davies to create a permanent artwork for Sculpture House, responding to the practices of our founding artists—Nick Evans, Laura Aldridge and James Rigler. The result is a striking, totem-like stack of forms, a playful riff on traditional newel post caps (often globes, acorns or thistles). Hand-carved in three sections from solid Yellowheart, Teak and Quebec Yellow Pine, and incorporating cast plastic with gold and silver leaf, each element references the founding artists’ individual approaches, together creating a cheerful focal point for our entrance hall.

This commission was supported by the Renfrewshire Visual Arts and Crafts Maker’s Award.

Ruth is a skilled pattern maker whose practice is rooted in Scotland’s Victorian industrial heritage. Using hand carving, turning and milling techniques, she creates wooden tooling that is later cast in iron, aluminium or bronze. Alongside her own work, she has contributed to significant restoration projects, including Paisley’s historic Walrus Fountain in Fountain Gardens.

Her new work at Sculpture House reflects the same dedication to history, craft and storytelling, while celebrating the practices that shaped our collective.