Hi, I’m Julia.

I’m an artist and illustrator and I create original paintings, fine art prints, cards, stationery and gifts from my riverside studio.  I love to work with watercolour, gouache and acrylic paint, but also like to add mixed media elements to my art in the form of ink, crayon and collage. I tend to work in a very illustrative style, and mostly from my imagination.

I am fortunate to live in a village on the edge of the countryside here in Yorkshire, the wild Pennine moors are just a five minute drive away from my home, and I’m also not too far from our stunning coastline. I love being by the sea, and we often pack up the car and go to the beach for the day, no matter the weather or the season.

I take advantage of my surroundings as often as I can, and enjoy walking and observing the birds and wildlife. Getting out in the elements, noticing the change of the seasons around me, the colours and the textures is so inspiring. I use all these influences to create collections of work that convey a sense of story; I love the feelings and emotions that a painting can invoke, and I am conscious that my art positively enhances both home and wellbeing.

H O W I T A L L B E G A N

From being told I’d never make it as an artist by a college art tutor to spending years in jobs I didn’t enjoy, I often felt I’d never be able to achieve my dream of living and working as an artist. In 1997 after working in the NHS payroll department for six years, I went to the University of Plymouth to study Interior Design. I loved the course and enjoyed living by the sea. I ended up staying in the South West for several years and taking a job as a sign writer when my course ended.

My sign writing contracts took me all over the UK and Ireland and I’ve been lucky to live and work in some amazing locations including Belfast, Dublin, Cork, London, and one of my favourites - a whole summer on the Isle of Wight. Being on the road began to take its toll though, and the pull to settle down and make art became too big to ignore. In 2006 I started to paint again and accepted my first commission work which saw the launch of my business. Although I studied art at school and college, I am also largely self taught, developing my own style over the years through books, taking classes, and plenty of experimenting in my studio.

Over the last 17 years I have had some amazing opportunities come my way. I’ve exhibited with many individual galleries, had a solo art show and taught art workshops. I’ve also hosted an illustration workshop for children in my local junior school and at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Although there have been a fair few bumps in the road, I’ve grown my little business, which evolved from my dining room table, to one that sells to new and returning customers from around the world.

I’m also proud to work with some wonderful publishing partners, including The Card Factory, The Eco Friendly Card Co, I-Canvas and The Art Group. My work has also been sold at Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire, and at the Bath House at RHS Harlow Carr.

W H A T ‘ S N E X T ?

The future feels exciting and I am looking forward to creating more nature inspired art works, and developing my product range. I’d love to create some new art classes too - watch this space.

T H E S E D A Y S

I live with my partner and teenage daughter in a tiny terraced cottage close to the Peak District. I love taking my sketchbook outside and spending the hours drawing and painting. I also enjoy cooking and baking, good coffee, being at the beach, reading novels and books, writing, yoga, walking and hiking, gardening, kayaking, star gazing, aromatherapy, sea swimming, islands and autumn.

W A N T T O F I N D O U T M O R E ?

I’d love to hear from you - please get in touch using the contact form.

You’re also very welcome to subscribe to my Art Bulletin, my monthly email which is packed full of stories from the studio, what I’ve been up to, art and creative business inspiration, and more. You can sign up here.