Julie Gilroy

Originally from England, now based in Brisbane, Julie is an abstract artist who is driven by a bold love of colour and form. Julie studied design at Buckinghamshire Art College, discovering her affinity for textiles and pattern. She forged a career as a fashion designer for major brands around the globe before carrying her creativity into art. Her art practice has grown through numerous private commissions, alongside group and solo exhibitions. Winning first place in the Royal Queensland Art Society’s Abstraction Prize, and a finalist in The Gosford Art Prize. The medium of archival colour pencil on wood board gives Julie’s artwork a unique style. Her bold compositions of hard edge colours are softened by the individual pencil strokes and textural wood surface. “I find the medium of colour pencil clean and decisive, the repetitive nature of sharpening and drawing is methodically comforting. I honed my technique to elevate the the sharp lines and saturation achievable with colour pencil. Working on wood board is central to the experience. There is a challenge in achieving the precise lines on the wood grain, which is rewarded by the softness it creates on the surface of the wood. The natural grain and imperfections break through the pencil, offsetting the exacting nature of the medium. My work is inspired by the outlines and shapes that constantly surrounded us. Feeding off everyday patterns found in ceramics, posters and signs or looking to break down nature into simple forms. The pursuit of the perfect composition is addictive.”