Julia Christie

I initially trained as an Illustrator at Manchester Polytechnic from 1980 to 1984. I graduated with a first class honours degree and began my career as a professional Illustrator. I was commissioned to work on numerous projects including Alice in Wonderland by Octopus Books, Beauty and the Beast by Frederick Warne and The Saga of Ethelred Flametail by Lilliput Lane. I undertook many advertising commissions and, with a London agent, worked for some years in this field.

In 1985 I moved to Gloucestershire to work at the Prema Project Arts centre in Uley as an artist in residence. It is here that I began my teaching career. I worked with a variety of community groups, art colleges, prisons, and was the art teacher at The Nelson House drug rehabilitation centre for 10 years. I ran weekly painting and drawing classes from my studio in Stroud.

I have been teaching for over 3 decades and have exhibited at various galleries in Gloucestershire and organised two major award winning exhibitions on the theme of trees – ‘Branching Out’ at The Museum in the Park in Stroud. I exhibit regularly at the Gallery An Talla Dearg, Isle Ornsay, Isle of Skye and at the Resipole Studios Fine Art Gallery in Acharacle.

I moved to Skye in 2013 to the village of Ardvasar where my mother grew up and where I spent many happy childhood holidays. My home and studio here on Skye are well placed to draw upon the inspiration of the environment. I have wonderful panoramic sea views across the sound of Sleat where I daily observe the natural dramas of the ever-changing weather and elusive ‘Skye light’. My passion is to capture and express the differing moods and atmosphere of the place. Since moving to Skye I have been inspired and set free to develop a new painting style, where the challenge is to capture and recreate the fleeting nuances of the forces of nature – sea , air and light. I am particularly fascinated by the light and how it plays on the sea and distant mountains, always surprising, and a never ending challenge to paint!

I host a selection of residential painting retreats from my home and studio on Skye and enjoy sharing my passion and love of this beautiful island with others.