Julie Roberts (artist) facts for kids

Julie Roberts (born 12 September 1963) is a Welsh painter. She creates art using acrylics, oils, and watercolours. Julie Roberts studied at the Wrexham School of Art, Saint Martin's School of Art, and the Glasgow School of Art. In her early artworks, she often painted medical tools and furniture. Later, her paintings included figures like dolls and mannequins. Roberts has shown her art in many group and solo exhibitions in cities across America and Europe. Her paintings are part of collections in various museums and private homes.

Early Life and Education

Julie Roberts was born on 12 September 1963, in Flint, North Wales, United Kingdom. She grew up with three siblings. For a short time, she and her siblings lived in foster care and children's homes. Later, they were reunited with their birth family.

From 1980 to 1984, Julie studied design at Wrexham School of Art. There, she earned an Ordinary National Certificate and a Higher National Diploma. She continued her studies between 1986 and 1987 at Saint Martin's School of Art in London. From 1988 to 1990, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow. In 1992, Roberts was also a visiting student at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.

Art Career and Themes

In her first ten years as an artist, Julie Roberts often painted medical equipment and furniture. She would show a single object against a bright, solid color background. An example is her 1992 painting, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Couch.

Roberts also created a series called Straightjacket. One painting from 1995, Restraining Coat (Female 2), showed historical tools. These tools were used in the 1800s to help people who were struggling. In the same year, she began to paint imaginative or unusual figures. Her 1996 painting, Crime of Passion, showed a scene with figures and objects.

Julie Roberts spent a year at the British School at Rome. She was the first artist to receive a scholarship from the Scottish Arts Council. During her time in Rome, she wanted to explore new ideas for her paintings. In 1996, she painted the study and desk of Sigmund Freud in several artworks. This was inspired by her year of study in Rome.

Later, Julie Roberts created paintings about children who were abandoned or orphaned. She also painted famous people on their deathbeds. Her 2006 artwork, The Good Wife, was inspired by old manuals from the 1930s. These manuals gave advice on how to be a good housewife.

In the same year, she used old photographs from the Glasgow School of Art. These photos showed female students drawing and painting in the early 1900s. She used these images for her oil painting, Girls Painting (The Drawing Lesson). This series honored the building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It also celebrated the school's modern approach to women students in the early 20th century.

In 2010, Roberts created a series of paintings that looked like children's books or instruction manuals. These paintings were based on historical records of children who faced challenges. This included children in homes run by Barnardo's, foster care children, and evacuees.

Julie Roberts has held many art shows, both by herself and with other artists. These shows have been in major cities across Europe and America. Her artworks are part of many museum collections and private art collections around the world.