Young artist and future fine arts student Ruby Burke is holding her first ever solo exhibition at the Lake Wānaka Centre later this month. 

The exhibition will have paintings for sale and auction, as well as greeting cards and prints for purchase. 

A Wanaka and Otago Arts Society member, Ruby said she was very excited to hold her first solo exhibition. 

Ruby began drawing and painting at 10 years old and said the exhibition will feature “a collection of my pieces going back through the years”.

“Over time I have developed and found my style,” Ruby told the Wanaka App. 

“Since I first began I have been fascinated by people and animals, and always try to get people to feel things by looking at my work.”

Ruby Burke PHOTO: Supplied

Ruby has exhibited and sold pieces at the Aspiring Art Awards and Wanaka Arts Society exhibitions, and also been a recipient of the People's Choice and Youth awards at Wanaka Arts Society exhibits.  

Ruby plans to study Fine Arts at Massey University in Wellington next year, and the exhibition will help fund her tertiary expenses. Twenty per cent of profits are also earmarked for KidsCan, a charity which helps children living in poverty in New Zealand. 

Ruby said she has always wanted to make her passion for art into a career.

“I am so intrigued by different techniques and methods of painting and was interested in building on what I already know. However, I was reluctant to go 'all in' in the artistic field,” she said. 

“I was very excited to hear that Massey's Fine Art degree has a strong focus on business, and this was what convinced me that Massey would be a good fit for me.”

Ruby’s exhibition will take place on June 20 at the Lake Wanaka Centre, 10am-4pm. Entry is by donation.