I would use the funding for a period of development, travel and new collaboration, to further my current trajectory of working with heritage collections, nature conservation and fusing this with performance art. I’ve recently been awarded a Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial grant to fund a short research period into the Soper Collection at Pannett Art Gallery; I’ll be developing relationships with conservation charities such as Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB, to find links between the archival collection and the North Yorkshire landscape today. This will then form a performance based response where live art and wildlife education are combined as part of a group show I curate. This is the first major step on my route to developing this way of working, and I would like to push this much further by:
-Connecting with and researching relevant collections, travelling to spend time with archives, meeting curators and networking.
-Exploring nature reserves and conservation areas which are of high concern or need support- connecting with local groups to develop community engagement project ideas
-Mentoring with Arts & Heritage to further support this direction in my practice
-A period of studio experimentation with new/sustainable materials, and working outdoors at specific locations across the North East- with new costumes and performance characters. This would include using some of the bursary to pay for the time of contemporary dancers, movement artists, videographers, materials and travel.
To:
-Become established as a Northern artist working with the region’s wildlife, history and communities to create engaging and impactful work
-Develop more ambitious proposals for 2-3 Large Projects/ Exhibitions between 2027-2030 in, or connected to venues such as Great North Museum, Baltic, (other gallery goals include Bury Art Museum, Fruit Market, Victoria Gallery & Museum Liverpool)
-A developed collaborative project with Arts & Heritage, particularly in conjunction with their Common Lands Project
-An expanded professional network with conservation charities such as Durham Wildlife Trust, arts professionals and curators across the North.
-A more sustainable and experimental performance art practice, working with a new network of collaborators, materials and scope to bring these ideas to life in new spaces.
I’m passionate and proud to be a Northern artist and aim to undertake a majority of the bursary activity in and around Darlington. Originally from Sheffield, I live and work in Manchester whilst undertaking specific projects rooted in Northern towns working with their heritage collections and communities to raise interest in these places and spaces. This is something I’d like to continue in Darlington and and County Durham, by exploring its natural spaces and history, with an aim to creatively responding to this in a unique way to substantial audiences.
I already have connections to the North East having performed at and conducted a residency at Glasshouse ICM, am part of a long term music collaboration based in Hull and have my upcoming project and exhibition at the Pannett in Whitby where I’ll be spending time exploring coastal nature sites.
I also cofounded and manage an independent record label which spotlights Northern creativity from under represented groups- as the visual arts coordinator I instigate collaborations between our roster, other musicians and contemporary visual artists- this is something I’d love to incorporate and raise the profile of other creative activity in Darlington by connection with it’s local music and arts community.
I am an award winning multimedia artist and performer represented by No Such Thing Records and PAPER Gallery. My practice reconstructs the readymade and familiar into the fantastical, with an aim to present unnatural histories, dreamworlds and new myths which blur the lines between science and cryptozoology. Expanded collage spans performance, installation, sound, music, work on paper, video, writing, sculpture, costume and interventions with museum collections; I work collaboratively to create large scale multisensory works and immersive exhibitions which incorporate scent, live roaming elements, audio and curated temporary displays. A fascination with water, wetlands habitat, herpetology, the botanical and the curious or hidden in nature roots my material and conceptual investigation; combining real reptile skins, bones and textured fabrics with found plastic and other synthetics, to highlight the entwinement of these in anthropogenic times. I use my works as a platform to hold larger environmental discussions, and conversations about the natural world. My music mixes electronica and natural sound with nu jazz, dance, experimental and avant garde pop; combining ethereal vocals lush and intriguing lyrics tell stories of giant bird men, celestial pools, glasshouse flirtation and steamy tropical paradises full of ancient lizards and monster bridegrooms. I produce hyper romantic and dreamy love songs- my lagoon fantasy world extending into audio to make ‘music from the swamp’. Recent solo exhibitions include Afterlife at the Whitaker in 2023-2024 funded by Arts Council England, Lagoons at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery 2022 funded by Culture Warrington & Future’s Venture, along with recent notable projects Flora Victorious at Venice Biennale 2022 with Venture Arts and Fountainia in 2022 commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival. I have exhibited and performed at Saatchi Gallery, Art Basel, Sluice, Manchester Art Gallery, The Manchester Contemporary, Center for Recent Drawing, Saul Hay, Royal Cambrian Academy, Comme Ca, Leeds Arts University, 48 Hours Neukölln, Axel Obiger, Chethams Library, HOME Manchester, Glasshouse ICM, New Colossus NYC, Glastonbury, Bluedot, Focus Wales, Bridgewater hall, Factory International, The Harris Preston and Manchester Museum.
I graduated from Manchester School of Art in 2011 with a BA in Fine Art.
I have been awarded an Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant in 2023, an ArtFund Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grant this year in 2025, ‘Radical Arts’ funding from Futures Venture and was awarded a Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Emerging Artist award in 2015.
I co founded and managed an independent record label No Such Thing Records, a creative collective and community showcasing Northern talent by under represented artists. I create and manage events and instigate collaborations between musical and visual artists, undergoing a variety of projects including directing music videos, release artwork and exhibitions.
I have been commissioned by Warrington Museum & Art Gallery in 2022, The Whitaker in 2023 and Chethams Library in 2017, along with music commissions by Manchester Jazz Festival in 2022 and the Harris Preston for Lancashire Encounter in 2021.
No, although I do have private collectors.
The most recent online article on my work was published in 2024 by the Fourdrinier https://www.thefourdrinier.com/review-mar-2024-ruby-tingle
I have been reviewed and interviewed in Creative Tourist, and in print- illustrative artwork commission published in ‘Gramarye’ -the journal for society of folklore plus review and interview in CCQ magazine.
I also have a number of online music reviews with quotes below:
‘A sensual and artistic Odyssey… a mesmerising atmosphere, where every note and word seem to be
meticulously chosen to create an immersive and intimate experience’
Iggy Magazine
‘Ruby’s sound is as unique as it is engaging… Worthy of Danny Elfman comparisons…
begs full immersion in order to experience the breadth of the artistic vision at play’
NECESSARY OUTLET
‘What’s crucial to know about Ruby Tingle as an artist, a performer and a musician is that every day
is a ballgown and amphibian day… the persona of the swamp princess is a way of life’
The Fourdrinier
‘Tingle has the rare talent of creating music that consumes you … One of the most exquisite tracks you have ever heard….a celestial realm of enchantment… Prepare to be spellbound…’
LOST IN THE MANOR
I am represented by PAPER Gallery Manchester. The physical space for this gallery was closed in 2023, and now functions as an online and pop up gallery. I have been represented by them since 2017, had 3 solo shows there and was exhibited in a number of group shows and art fairs including The Manchester Contemporary, Sluice and Art Basel.
I was selected for both the Exploring Paper and Tracing Paper residencies run by PAPER, before and during my representation. I was also chosen as a VA Collective artist by Venture Arts 2021, the Emerging Talent Residency at the Met Bury 2024 and the Artist in residence programme at Glasshouse ICM 2022.
Email: swampprincesstingle@gmail.com
Address: 3 Salisbury Road, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, wa14 5le, GB
Local Authority: Trafford
