Ruth Stage was brought up in Cleveland, where she attended Cleveland College of Art and Design, 1987–8. After Newcastle upon Tyne University, 1988–92, obtained a postgraduate diploma at Royal Academy Schools, 1992–5. Among her awards were Tony Smith Landscape Award and British Institute Fund, both 1994; David Murray Scholarship, National Westminster Bank Art Prize and runner-up, The Hunting Prize, all 1995; and in 1996 at RA Summer Exhibition, prize from M&G for best painter under 35 years. Stage was twice runner-up for the Villiers David Prize, in 2000 and 2001, winning it in 2003. She was elected NEAC in 1999. Mixed shows included RA Summer Exhibition from 1993; Redfern Gallery, 1995; and Making a Mark, at Mall Galleries, and three-artist exhibition at Cadogan Contemporary, both 1996.

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Later awards include Centro d’Art Modigliani, Florence, and RA Friends’ Room, NEAC Members, both 2002. Had a solo show at Trevelyan College, Durham University, 1994, another at New Grafton Gallery, 1997, David Wolfers having admired Stage’s facility with the demanding egg tempera medium. The New Grafton continued to show her, notably in The Villiers David Award Exhibition, 2004, other venues including John Davies Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold, 2002. Was commissioned to illustrate 1996 Chevron UK calendar, many other corporate collections subsequently acquiring Stage’s pictures. 

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Text source: Artists in Britain Since 1945 by David Buckman