Julie has been working as a Freelance Arts Practitioner since 1999, She is committed to and passionate about the contribution that creativity and the arts can and should make to learning. She has extensive experience of working with schools and community groups, aged from the under 5s through to people aged 80+ She works in the community, galleries and museums.
She has delivered adult evening classes and weekend workshops on a regular basis with themes such as drawing, printing and collage. She regularly runs the ever popular sell out courses 'Can't Draw, Won't Draw' and 'Can Draw, Will Draw at The Lowry.
Projects
The Story of the A6
Stockport Central Library commissioned ARC Centre to produce artwork co-designed and made by Stockport residents and myself.
The project brings together iconic Stockport architecture from Wellington Road South and the original library architectural plans. It celebrates the wealth of information, materials and resources available in the library.
During the design process, photographs of buildings from Wellington Road South and original architectural plans of the library were sourced from the heritage library. Family and adult workshops took place to encourage Stockport residents to participate in the design process. During these workshops, participants chose their favourite books to be photocopied. They then made collages with them onto a background of the architectural plans of the three floors of the library and colouring sheets of buildings were also completed in a range of colours.
After the workshops, these ideas were then collated to represent individual contributions and to present the variety of ideas. Final designs were developed through the use of Photoshop and then digitally printed onto organic cotton to reflect the heritage of the Stockport textile industry.
Enthusiastic participants attended workshops at ARC Centre to develop the digital prints with appliqué, hand and machine embroidery. Workshops were on a drop in basis and participants contributed as much time as they wished of the course of three days.
Stockport Central Library commissioned ARC Centre to produce artwork co-designed and made by Stockport residents and myself.
The project brings together iconic Stockport architecture from Wellington Road South and the original library architectural plans. It celebrates the wealth of information, materials and resources available in the library.
During the design process, photographs of buildings from Wellington Road South and original architectural plans of the library were sourced from the heritage library. Family and adult workshops took place to encourage Stockport residents to participate in the design process. During these workshops, participants chose their favourite books to be photocopied. They then made collages with them onto a background of the architectural plans of the three floors of the library and colouring sheets of buildings were also completed in a range of colours.
After the workshops, these ideas were then collated to represent individual contributions and to present the variety of ideas. Final designs were developed through the use of Photoshop and then digitally printed onto organic cotton to reflect the heritage of the Stockport textile industry.
Enthusiastic participants attended workshops at ARC Centre to develop the digital prints with appliqué, hand and machine embroidery. Workshops were on a drop in basis and participants contributed as much time as they wished of the course of three days.
Unpicked Restitched is a collaboration led by Arts for Recovery with Julie and writer Sarah Butler, please see the separate page to view the project.
Thomas Horsfall Project - Manchester Art Gallery
This project was based on the Thomas Horsfall exhibition Manchester Art Gallery. The exhibition explored a selection of nature themed artworks and objects from the little-known Thomas Horsfall collection. The 60 artworks on display from Horsfall’s art collection include birds, botanical and garden drawings and watercolours
The project was with two schools, Goostrey Community Primary School in Cheshire and Manchester Communication Academy in Harpurhey, it explored the concept of beauty and the formal elements in art and design of line,shape, pattern, texture, composition, form, tone and colour. The team of four artists on the project were given two formal elements each to explore, Julie focused on pattern and texture. Artists were asked to select two artworks form the exhibition that inspire them and relate to thier formal elements. Julie chose artworks with birds living in city and countryside habitats.
At Goostrey Community Primary School the pupils worked with gallery staff to produce an exhibition guide.
At Manchester Communication Academy the students produced a video based on the themes extracted.
Here is some of the work that was produced in the sessions that Julie carried out based on texture and pattern.
Goostrey Community Primary School
This project was based on the Thomas Horsfall exhibition Manchester Art Gallery. The exhibition explored a selection of nature themed artworks and objects from the little-known Thomas Horsfall collection. The 60 artworks on display from Horsfall’s art collection include birds, botanical and garden drawings and watercolours
The project was with two schools, Goostrey Community Primary School in Cheshire and Manchester Communication Academy in Harpurhey, it explored the concept of beauty and the formal elements in art and design of line,shape, pattern, texture, composition, form, tone and colour. The team of four artists on the project were given two formal elements each to explore, Julie focused on pattern and texture. Artists were asked to select two artworks form the exhibition that inspire them and relate to thier formal elements. Julie chose artworks with birds living in city and countryside habitats.
At Goostrey Community Primary School the pupils worked with gallery staff to produce an exhibition guide.
At Manchester Communication Academy the students produced a video based on the themes extracted.
Here is some of the work that was produced in the sessions that Julie carried out based on texture and pattern.
Goostrey Community Primary School
Manchester Communication Academy- Thomas Horsfall Project
Loreto High School, Chorlton
KS3 Gifted and Talented students worked with Julie on these 3 metre long fabric panels to be displayed prominently within the school. Students produced drawings from around the school site and collaged with maps of the school and local area to produce designs that included words of the school ethos.. The panels were then produced using inks, print and appliqué on canvas.
KS3 Gifted and Talented students worked with Julie on these 3 metre long fabric panels to be displayed prominently within the school. Students produced drawings from around the school site and collaged with maps of the school and local area to produce designs that included words of the school ethos.. The panels were then produced using inks, print and appliqué on canvas.
Stories of Chat Moss
Julie worked as an artist in residence with KS3 pupils at Irlam and Casdished College to create four wallhangings based on 'Stories of Chat Moss'.
Pupils explored the history of Chat Moss by listening to oral histories and drawing from archive photographs. They made four large panels that are exhibited in the entrance of their new academy building. They explored the techniques of wax resist, transfer printing, reverse appliqué on the sewing machine, bondaweb appliqué and hand stitching.
Pupils explored the history of Chat Moss by listening to oral histories and drawing from archive photographs. They made four large panels that are exhibited in the entrance of their new academy building. They explored the techniques of wax resist, transfer printing, reverse appliqué on the sewing machine, bondaweb appliqué and hand stitching.
Selected Community Art Projects
2017
Story of the A6 -Stockport Central Library entrance textile panels
2016
Victoria Park, Stretford, A door to our community exhibition with The Lowry
2015
Unpicked Restitched for Arc Stockport with writer Sarah Butler
Slice project for Curoius Minds/Lowry in Ridgewood Community High school for special needs students in Burnley
Arts week for Park Royal Community School in Macclesfield.
Arts on Prescription' in Stockport for adults recovering from depression
2014
'Arts on Prescription' and 'Mums in Art' groups in Stockport for adults recovering from depression and post natal depression
Ellenbrook Community Primary School Book Art Week with Year 4
2013
Thomas Horsfall project at Manchester Art Gallery with primary and secondary school groups
Ellenbrook Community Primary School Book Art Week, Traditional Stories textile pieces with Early Years.
2012
Loreto High School, Chortlon-cum-Hardy. Textile wall hangings based on the school ethos with KS3 Gifted and Talented pupils.
'Have your say' Hate Crime project for Tameside galleries and Museums working with adults with learning disabilities.
Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall artist working with the active at 60+ group
2011
Chat Moss project. Textile panels with Salford Art Gallery and Museum at Irlam and Cadishead College.
Early years project with drama facilitator Emily Capstick for Manchester Art Gallery at Woodville Children’s Centre,
Cheetham Hill, based on the book The Swirling Hijab.
Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall artist working with the active at 60+ group
2010
Lunchtime Drawing, Manchester Art Gallery, an experimental monthly drawing session for adults
Manchester Art Gallery ‘inspired by…’ workshops and tours for adults
2017
Story of the A6 -Stockport Central Library entrance textile panels
2016
Victoria Park, Stretford, A door to our community exhibition with The Lowry
2015
Unpicked Restitched for Arc Stockport with writer Sarah Butler
Slice project for Curoius Minds/Lowry in Ridgewood Community High school for special needs students in Burnley
Arts week for Park Royal Community School in Macclesfield.
Arts on Prescription' in Stockport for adults recovering from depression
2014
'Arts on Prescription' and 'Mums in Art' groups in Stockport for adults recovering from depression and post natal depression
Ellenbrook Community Primary School Book Art Week with Year 4
2013
Thomas Horsfall project at Manchester Art Gallery with primary and secondary school groups
Ellenbrook Community Primary School Book Art Week, Traditional Stories textile pieces with Early Years.
2012
Loreto High School, Chortlon-cum-Hardy. Textile wall hangings based on the school ethos with KS3 Gifted and Talented pupils.
'Have your say' Hate Crime project for Tameside galleries and Museums working with adults with learning disabilities.
Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall artist working with the active at 60+ group
2011
Chat Moss project. Textile panels with Salford Art Gallery and Museum at Irlam and Cadishead College.
Early years project with drama facilitator Emily Capstick for Manchester Art Gallery at Woodville Children’s Centre,
Cheetham Hill, based on the book The Swirling Hijab.
Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall artist working with the active at 60+ group
2010
Lunchtime Drawing, Manchester Art Gallery, an experimental monthly drawing session for adults
Manchester Art Gallery ‘inspired by…’ workshops and tours for adults