Julie Whitehead

I have always had a love of art; it’s been woven like a tapestry throughout my life. From a young age I had a strong appreciation of my mother’s love of a vibrant, colourful garden and this was the starting point for my interest and love of beautiful flowers. 

As a young girl I was drawn to classical ballet which I studied for over 10 years. The dance, movement, drama, colour and precision that went into every step was captivating to me. This is now reflected in my painting style, capturing these floral beauties in their full integrity.  

Attending art school in Melbourne and completing a Diploma in Art and Design at Prahran College of Advanced Education was an inevitable sequence of events. To study art was all I ever dreamed of and to become a professional artist. However, the road to becoming a full-time artist is challenging so I spent several years as a renowned chocolatier channeling my artistic skills in a different direction.  

My art is about energy, beauty, colour, and movement, it comes from the heart. Painting florals is like capturing a moment in time. They are so sensual, fragile, delicate, like the peony’s I particularly love to paint. I find myself drawn to them as they remind me of the tutus I used to wear as a ballet dancer. Their petals are like exquisite layers of fabric interwoven, soft, delicate and beautiful. They hold a special place in my heart, and this is reflected in the large canvases I paint to truly show off the stunning beauty of these flowers. They take on a life of their own with the overall impact being more intense and engaging.

I have exhibited work throughout Victoria, New South Wales, the UK and more recently in Brisbane as well as shipping my artwork to collectors in the USA & UK.