Biography
After graduating with a BA(Hons) degree in Visual Communication, Julia worked for 25 years designing and illustrating magazines and books in London. These included partworks ‘Garden Magic’ and ‘Plant Magic’.
In 2006 she decided to concentrate purely on her own paintings. Shortly afterwards, her husband’s career took them to Hong Kong for six years. The boldness of the exotic blooms and foliage she saw during her time in Asia inspired her to produce paintings of the local flora.
The move to Asia, where she no longer had a garden, meant that she had to rely on studying the plants from botanical gardens or parks. Being unable to pick the plant (except for fallen flowers), she had to rely on photography. Thankfully, digital photography was in use by then. Using her Photoshop skills learnt as a graphic designer, she was able to adjust and compose her subjects on the computer. It also had the added benefit of being able to enlarge areas to see more detail.
She exhibited in Hong Kong and then following her return to the UK, locally in Kent and also in London with the Society of Botanic Artists (SBA) and the Society of Painters in Watercolours. She has also exhibited in Frankfurt and Madrid in association with the SBA.
Julia was awarded full membership of the SBA in 2014, and has been an active member of the SBA Council.
She has won awards for her paintings of Agapanthus, Amarylis, Acanthus Spinoza, Blue Iris, Canna Indica, Red Poppies and her series of paintings of 9 flowers in red, green, orange and purple.
Julia uses watercolour and ink on hot-pressed paper, but has recently also worked in oils on board.
Apart from taking on commissions, she also produces a range of high-quality greetings cards and giglée prints.
Exhibitions & Awards
February - March 2011, solo exhibition at The Peak, Hong Kong
January -February 2014, solo exhibition, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells.
April 2014, The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London.
May 2014 , SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London.
April 2015, The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London.
May 2015 SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London. I was awarded the St Cuthbert’s Mill award for this body of work.
June - September 2015, joint exhibition with 3 other SBA members at the Barracuda Club, 1 Baker Street, London W1.
March 2016 - present. Joined Creatives.tw and exhibited in their gallery in Ely Court, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells. My work is also exhibited at the “Together” unit in Ely Court, RVP, and also at various exhibitions at Woods restaurant, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells.
May 2016, SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London. Awarded full membership of the SBA
October 2016. Joint exhibition with Creatives.tw at Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells.
November 2016. Five paintings exhibited at Palmengarten, Frankfurt, along with with the SBA
'Art for Art's sake' Hospice in the Weald, Pembury, March 2017
Joint exhibition with Creatives.tw at Trinity Arts, Tunbridge Wells, August 2017
The September Art Exhibition, The Commemoration Hall, High Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex, Sept 2017
SBA annual exhibition, London, October 2017
Exhibition at Trinity Arts, Tunbridge Wells, April 2018
Paintings exhibited at Botanic Gardens, Madrid, March - May 2018
Palmengarten, Frankfurt Oct- Nov 2018
Guest artist at Chalk Gallery, Lewes, February - April 2019
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, June 2019
SBA annual open exhibition, online, June 2020
'Super Nature' exhibition, The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1, October 2020
SBA annual exhibition, online, June 2021
Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, 14th April - 23rd April 2022
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, June 2022
SBA online exhibition 1-30 December 2022
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, 14th -20th May 2023
Upcoming exhibitions:
Pop-up shop, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, 10th November - 23rd December 2023
In 2006 she decided to concentrate purely on her own paintings. Shortly afterwards, her husband’s career took them to Hong Kong for six years. The boldness of the exotic blooms and foliage she saw during her time in Asia inspired her to produce paintings of the local flora.
The move to Asia, where she no longer had a garden, meant that she had to rely on studying the plants from botanical gardens or parks. Being unable to pick the plant (except for fallen flowers), she had to rely on photography. Thankfully, digital photography was in use by then. Using her Photoshop skills learnt as a graphic designer, she was able to adjust and compose her subjects on the computer. It also had the added benefit of being able to enlarge areas to see more detail.
She exhibited in Hong Kong and then following her return to the UK, locally in Kent and also in London with the Society of Botanic Artists (SBA) and the Society of Painters in Watercolours. She has also exhibited in Frankfurt and Madrid in association with the SBA.
Julia was awarded full membership of the SBA in 2014, and has been an active member of the SBA Council.
She has won awards for her paintings of Agapanthus, Amarylis, Acanthus Spinoza, Blue Iris, Canna Indica, Red Poppies and her series of paintings of 9 flowers in red, green, orange and purple.
Julia uses watercolour and ink on hot-pressed paper, but has recently also worked in oils on board.
Apart from taking on commissions, she also produces a range of high-quality greetings cards and giglée prints.
Exhibitions & Awards
February - March 2011, solo exhibition at The Peak, Hong Kong
January -February 2014, solo exhibition, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells.
April 2014, The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London.
May 2014 , SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London.
April 2015, The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London.
May 2015 SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London. I was awarded the St Cuthbert’s Mill award for this body of work.
June - September 2015, joint exhibition with 3 other SBA members at the Barracuda Club, 1 Baker Street, London W1.
March 2016 - present. Joined Creatives.tw and exhibited in their gallery in Ely Court, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells. My work is also exhibited at the “Together” unit in Ely Court, RVP, and also at various exhibitions at Woods restaurant, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells.
May 2016, SBA Open exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, London. Awarded full membership of the SBA
October 2016. Joint exhibition with Creatives.tw at Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells.
November 2016. Five paintings exhibited at Palmengarten, Frankfurt, along with with the SBA
'Art for Art's sake' Hospice in the Weald, Pembury, March 2017
Joint exhibition with Creatives.tw at Trinity Arts, Tunbridge Wells, August 2017
The September Art Exhibition, The Commemoration Hall, High Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex, Sept 2017
SBA annual exhibition, London, October 2017
Exhibition at Trinity Arts, Tunbridge Wells, April 2018
Paintings exhibited at Botanic Gardens, Madrid, March - May 2018
Palmengarten, Frankfurt Oct- Nov 2018
Guest artist at Chalk Gallery, Lewes, February - April 2019
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, June 2019
SBA annual open exhibition, online, June 2020
'Super Nature' exhibition, The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1, October 2020
SBA annual exhibition, online, June 2021
Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, 14th April - 23rd April 2022
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, June 2022
SBA online exhibition 1-30 December 2022
SBA annual open exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5BD, 14th -20th May 2023
Upcoming exhibitions:
Pop-up shop, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, 10th November - 23rd December 2023
Contact details
Julia Patience
Hazelwood House
Bishops Down Park Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN4 8XS
Tel 01892 548123
Mobile: 0754 776 4946
juliapatience@btinternet.com
Hazelwood House
Bishops Down Park Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN4 8XS
Tel 01892 548123
Mobile: 0754 776 4946
juliapatience@btinternet.com