Julie Collins

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“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.”

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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.

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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:

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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

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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

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2015

Wykeham Gallery, Stockbridge, Hants

Royal West of England Academy, Bristol

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2014

Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey

Yew Tree Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall

Museum of Farnham, Surrey

Clydesdale Bank, Guildford

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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

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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

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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