Julie Collins
“My best work comes about when I least expect it and I am not trying to make a good painting. Each painting is a simple view where a figure, vase, branch or bird appears as part of a landscape.”
Julie studied painting at the the University of Reading where she was taught by Sir Terry Frost, Mali Morris RA, Albert Irwin and enjoyed visiting lecturers including Anish Kapoor, Richard Hamilton, Gillian Ayres and Anthony Frost. The Abstract Expressionist style at Reading influenced Julie’s work and can be seen in her paintings today. Her expressive style is combined with an imaginative story and her observations from nature.
Julie walks by the coast for miles each day and observations and memories from these walks are used to create her work. The studio is where she will have many pieces in progress at the same time. Somehow this creates a flow or a conversation between each painting and they will eventually link up in a series. The paintings represent an alternative reality rather than an actual view. A fine balance between intuition, emotion and formal control of the paint is crucial in each piece. Drawing and painting outside is an important part of Julie’s practice. She has been Artist in Residence at the Observatory, working on the sea wall at Lymington’s nature reserve and then at Bucklers Hard, part of the Beaulieu Estate. The challenge of working in the elements provides great inspiration and brings immediacy to Julie’s work.
Julie exhibits widely and has received numerous awards for her work. In October 2016 she received 1st Prize at the Royal West of England Academy of Art, Bristol. Her work has been selected for London exhibitions by the late Brian Sewell, Sir Peter Blake, Albert Irwin and Frances Carey from the British Museum.
BA Hons, Art (Painting), University of Reading 1980-84
Awards
2016 The Watercolour Award, Ist Prize, Royal West of England Academy of Art, Bristol
2011 The Royal Watercolour Society Award, RWS Open Exhibition, London
2008 Discerning Eye, Regional Award, London and South East
2008 St Cuthberts Mill, 1st Prize, Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition, London
2006 Daler Rowney Award, Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition, London
Residencies and Projects
Artist in Residence, Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu Estate, Hampshire, November 2016
Artist in Residence, The Observatory, Lymington Nature Reserve, Hants, 2016
Artist in Residence & Art project leader, Museum of Farnham, Surrey, 2013-2015
Life Today Project, Art for the visually impaired, Hampshire County Council, 2006 -2008
Artist in Residence, Gilbert White’s House, Hants 2000 – 2007
Exhibitions 2018
Carina Haslam Art, Great Missenden, Bucks, November -December
Amanda Aldous Fine Art, Hants, November-December
Royal West of England Academy of Art, Bristol, October-November
Society of Women Artists, Mall Galleries, London
Atkinson Open, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset
Broadway Festival, Cotswolds
Southampton City Art Gallery
Coastal Gallery Summer Exhibition, Lymington, Hants
Wykeham Gallery Summer Exhibition, Stockbridge, Hants
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Mall Galleries, London
Recent solo Exhibitions
2017 Isle Gallery, Isle of Man
2015 Studio 42 Gallery, Isle of Man
2015 Art of the Garden, Museum of Farnham, Surrey
2012 Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey
2012 Stour Gallery, Shipston on Stour, Joint show
Selected Exhibitions:
2017
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Mall Galleries, London
Wykeham Gallery Summer Exhibition, Stockbridge
Art Sway, with Coastal Gallery, Sway, Hants
Studio 42 Gallery, Isle of Man
20th Anniversary of the Sayle Gallery, Isle of Man
2016
Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, Watercolour Award 1st prize
Discerning Eye 25th Anniversary Prizewinners Exhibition, Temple Church, London
Shortlisted for NOA
ArtSway with the Coastal Gallery, Sway, Hants
Winchester School of Art, Winchester
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Mall Galleries, London
Coastal Gallery, Lymington, Hants
2015
Wykeham Gallery, Stockbridge, Hants
Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2014
Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey
Yew Tree Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
Museum of Farnham, Surrey
Clydesdale Bank, Guildford
2013
Shortlisted for NOA
Hackwood Art Festival, Hampshire
Baker Tilly with Guildford Arts, Guildford
West Dean College, West Sussex, Drawing Exhibition
Stour Gallery, Shipston on Stour
2012
Discerning Eye, London Selected by Albert Irvin RA & Gerald Walker ING
Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Royal Watercolour Society, London
West Dean College, West Sussex
Bath Contemporary Gallery, Bath
McAllister Thomas Fine Art, Surrey
2011
Discerning Eye, London, Selected by Brian Sewell
Bristol Art Fair with Sarah Wiseman Gallery
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Royal Watercolour Society, London
McAllister Thomas Fine Art, Surrey
Bath Contemporary Gallery, Bath
Publications
2020 Colour in watercolour, Search Press
2019 Colour Mixing guides, Acrylic & Oil French editions
2019 Colour Mixing guides, Watercolour, Acrylic & Oil Chinese editions
2018 Colour Mixing guides, Watercolour, Acrylic & Oil Russian editions
2016-2017 A-Z of Colour in Watercolour, 26 articles, Artist magazine
2017 Colour Mixing guide, Watercolour French edition
2016 Colour Mixing guide, Oil, Search Press
2015 Colour Mixing guide, Acrylic, Search Press
2015 Colour Mixing guide, Watercolour, Search Press
2013 Painting Flowers with Impact, Chinese edition
2007 Colour Mixing Index - sponsored by Winsor & Newton, David & Charles
2006 Painting Flowers with Impact – Taschen, German, Dutch, Spanish & French
2005 Painting Flowers with Impact in Watercolour – David & Charles, UK & USA
2003 Artists Problem Solver (co author), Collins
Freelance writer for the Artist magazine since 1999
Art Education Freelance Art tutor to MA, BA, Foundation and A-level students