Exhibition dates: 18 – 30 March 2025
Launch date: Tuesday 18 March 2025, 6–8pm – All welcome
Curated alongside Vivienne Roberts, this is an exhibition celebrating the life and work of British artist Julia Oak, featuring drawings, scrolls, sketchbooks, and textile works. Julia sadly passed away on 30 January 2025 after a long, brave battle with cancer. She was aware of the exhibition, being involved in its planning, and very much wanted it to be a joyful celebration. Julia had been creating since 2004, and was a psychic artist using the medium of drawing to commune with the spirit world. She rarely planned her drawings except for choosing the paper and colours she used for her mark making. Sometimes there was a focus, something she wanted to meditate upon; but after that her pen was a dowsing rod, discovering what the page was willing to share. As Julia found herself in that liminal space between life and death, she wanted to create more than anything else, continuing right until the end. It both healed and helped in the transition of transmutation to her Spirit Family. We can't wait to show you Julia's world, but here you can learn a little more about her process:
“In 2004 I began my drawing practice with pens on paper, mainly in sketchbooks. The images evolved from somewhere, and took me to a safe place. My spirituality had entered a Pagan phase and my beliefs and understanding of spirituality began to evolve at a rate of knots, coming thick and fast. I just had to draw. I could be whatever I wanted to be, go wherever I wanted to go and do.
I very rarely plan drawings over and above the paper I will use, and the range of colours for my mark making. Sometimes there is a focus, something I want to meditate upon; after that my pen is a dowsing rod and discovers what the page is willing to share. It is the act of drawing and the process that allows me to sift the information, stimulus, sounds, words and images that float around inside my mind, like a primordial cauldron bubbling up from below the membrane of my subconscious. Sometimes my thoughts surprise me and I wonder who this other ‘me’ is.
Today I am an artist, and have been able to add that I am a psychic artist using the medium of drawing to commune with the spirit world. My artwork is strongly linked with Spirit. My spirit family are my mentors and they encourage me to be my authentic self. As I now find myself in that liminal space between life and death, I want to create more than anything else. It both heals and helps in the transition of transmutation to my Spirit Family.”
Several works will be available for sale during the exhibition, please reach out for available works should you be unable to make it there.
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4:30pm and Sunday, 12–4pm
Access: This venue is wheelchair accessible
Venue can be found down the side of M&S, off East Street, around the back
Free entrance