Coaching and Mentoring
Having left my own successful career to study Fine Art in the 1990s, I understand the value of a fulfilling creative life, and the support needed to achieve it. Clients may focus on a challenging career change or wish to develop creative thinking alongside an established career path outside the arts. I work on a 1:1 basis using a variety of approaches tailored to the individual's needs, allowing the client to set the agenda while I provide non-judgemental support and goal-related focus. I am also particularly committed to expanding young minds through creative experimentation with the arts, as I believe the flexibility of mind it encourages reaps rewards across the curriculum .
To see a selection of images from workshops and mentoring sessions please scroll over Mentoring button to show Images section
Fees
I offer an affordable, flexible fee structure for both adults and young people
Qualifications
Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate
Member of The Royal British Society of Sculptors
Many years experience teaching on BA Fine Art University of Reading; MA Workshops Royal Holloway Univ London; BA Kingston University
PhD in Fine Art (2022)
MA Art and Space (Distinction)
BA (Fine Art (1st Class Hons)
MSCP qualification in physiotherapy with 14 years experience - speciality intensive care including Supt Physiotherapist at Professor Magdi Yacoub's private hospital.
I have attended courses in Motivational Coaching (including Antony Robbins & Coaching Academy) and NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming)
Experience
Sessional tutor BA Fine Art FA1ART University of Reading
Seminar leader Yr 1 BA Fine Art University Reading Critical engagement with text
Visiting lecturer Documenting Performance, MA Students Royal Holloway, University of London and BA students South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Head of Art, Ealing College Upper School for 3 years (Jan 2009 - Dec 2011) - singled out by Ofsted for 'enthusiastic and thoughtful' teaching
Workshops for Asia House, local schools (including special needs), and Cloud Communications
Workshops for OPEN Ealing - a dynamic platform for the arts, West Ealing
Facilitator for the Longest Drawing in the World for The Big Draw, Campaign for Drawing 1km
Artist/Project manager for 'Arabesque' at the V&A for The Big Draw, Campaign for Drawing
Outreach Supervisor for life drawing class for The Royal Academy of Arts
Responsibility for district-wide respiratory teaching, management of on-call rotas, induction programme to intensive care for juniors and mentoring/assessment of ITU and Cardiac physiotherapy teams at St Bartholomew's Hospital 1987-1992
Self-initiated employment for 18 months in Hong Kong 1985 -1987 - working in the intensive care unit at a specialist (Cantonese-speaking) cardio-thoracic hospital
Testimonials
It’s quite easy to become stuck in one’s art practice and sometimes you just need encouragement and ideas to get going again. Julie visited my studio and we spent a productive morning discussing how I could develop my practice. We covered an array of topics - exhibition opportunities, residencies, presenting yourself online and creative strategies. Julie’s extensive experience of mentoring and supporting others came over strongly in this exercise and she made a number of practical suggestions about how I might move forward. This review has given me new momentum and fresh ways of thinking about my practice. I’m very appreciative of Julie’s mentoring support and her insights into my work. I very much look forward to working with her again in the future. Peter Esslemont, ACAVA Artist
I can vouch for Julie’s extreme reliability, efficiency and project management skills. In 2002, I commissioned her to create a dance piece at the V&A as part of The Big Draw National Launch.....Julie project-managed the performance from start to finish, with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. She was a pleasure to deal with throughout our preparations, and the dance piece met, or rather exceeded, all our expectations.
Sue Grayson Ford, Director, The Campaign for Drawing
I am delighted that Julie and OPEN Ealing have had the opportunity to work together. Julie has provided some inspirational and productive workshops for young people aged up to 14 which have proved extremely popular and resulted in some amazing art. Her ideas and concepts for meaningful but fun sessions go a long way to encouraging people to return to our workshops and everyone says how much they enjoy it (both parents and young people). I thought her workshops based on listening to music and painting what you feel (resulting in a variety of young 'Kandinksys') couldn't be easily surpassed; however her workshop helping students design and create a fantasy chair was truly a triumph and one which will be back by popular demand! Julie's style of teaching and organisation means that everyone gets the most out of the two hour session and at the end of the day they come away with a feeling of satisfaction and OPEN has achieved our aims of making quality contemporary art accessible to all. Thank you Julie.
Mandie Wilde, OPEN Ealing
Julie changed my future. Her constant emphasis on experimentation and thinking analytically led to her success in producing a student who was confident in questioning everything constructively. Julie always took a deep interest in the work and ideas of her students, and in criticising the students’ works she would ask: “What if?” Julie encouraged me to question different possibilities, to not be afraid of trying something new, to endeavour to discover.
Annahita Moradi, Ex-student, graduate MA International Law, SOAS, and written when undertaking Law Pupillage in London
I hope Max can do more of your courses ... you are terrific at broadening their minds about how to tackle Art.
Stephanie Wilkinson
We had some great half term kids' workshops. Big thank you to our Artist/Leaders: Julie Brixey-Williams and Timothy B. Layden. The Kandinsky-inspired explosion of colour and sound made yesterday is truly beautiful. I am proud that we can help promote and educate young (and older) people about Art and Creativity.
Jack Jones, OPEN Ealing
Julie Brixey-Williams gave art lessons to my 9 and 11 year old children. It was fun for them but it was an eye-opening experience for me. Julie made them feel confident in their own decisions and to realise that there is no wrong answer. Having lacked self-assurance in art my daughter particularly embraced the sessions and when she started secondary school this year her art teacher said that she liked teaching my daughter because she was ‘not afraid to make mistakes’. My daughter’s positive approach gave her a great head start to secondary school and I thank Julie for helping her to trust herself; to see things in a different light and to enjoy a fun and creative outlet.
Julie Emig, Head of Marketing, St Martin in the Fields
Julie conducted a wonderful day workshop with my BA students of Theatre and Contemporary Performance. She was highly organised and put a lot of effort into ensuring her session would contribute to the success of the student's project on walking and performance. She was generous with time, knowledge and resources, and her enthusiastic yet open approach to the session meant that any apprehensions about being 'good at art' were replaced with curiosity and inspiration. A thoroughly enjoyable day. Many thanks.
Lizzie Philps, Course Leader, BA Theatre and Contemporary Performance, SGS College, Bristol.
Julie was my life coach last year and I found her exceptional. She helped me focus on my long term and short term goals and achieve them with a plan which was realistic and well structured. She has a wide range of different professional and social experiences, including international placements, so is able to offer a comprehensive, capable life coaching service in a warm empathetic manner.
Dr. Hennah Bashir
I am very grateful to Julie for all the help she has given my seven year old son. Julie’s creativity, experience and professionalism enabled her to create an individual program to improve his voice projection, whilst making him more aware of his posture and diaphragmatic breathing. Julie’s positive and encouraging nature made the sessions fun and a pleasure for him. My son has grown in confidence and has made amazing progress with the clarity of his speech.
Giselle Hazan
Julie devised and ran a highly enjoyable art project for families and children entitled Fantastical Landscapes. She encouraged participants to respond to the photographs in the Eve Arnold in China exhibition in exciting and innovative ways such as creating narratives and exploring the poetry of landscape. Participants then translated their ideas into 3D imaginative landscapes using brown paper, tape and string. The simplicity of the materials really allowed the strength and originality of the designs to shine through. Julie encouraged everyone to explore and manipulate materials in unusual new directions creating a range of shapes, surfaces and textures. The final sculptures were very successful and when placed together, produced a spectacular bird’s eye view effect. I would recommend Julie unreservedly. She is highly organised in every aspect of her work from planning to delivery. She has an encouraging and supportive manner and creates a colourful and inviting learning environment in which people of all abilities can flourish.
Alison Dunne, Education Officer, Asia House
Presentations/Workshops
Making Connections: listening to the landscape - Talk and workshop A2 students, Brockenhurst College, 20th April 2016
Performing the experience in material form - Workshop leader for DT5211, MA in Contemporary Performance Practices, Royal Holloway Dept Drama and Theatre, March 2015 ; Oct 2015; Oct 2016
Documenting walking - workshop for BA Performing Arts students at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College May 2014
Structuring the ‘What If?’ of Walking: starting points for capturing intuitive responses to materials as part of Walking in the city: mapping borders (In the City series) The Parlour Showroom, Bristol 13th Sept 2013
Exposing the Collaborative processes of 'point and place’ - paper at On Collaboration II, Middlesex University 2013
Side by Side - invited contributor to discussion at Siobhan Davies studios 2012
Polyply6 (Scores) -presentation of Step Feather Stitch with Libby Worth, at Centre of Creative Collaboration, London 2011
Anaesthetic: A Temporary Block of Sense - presentation, Symposium at Central St. Martin’s 2010
Anaesthesia News - 3 articles 2004 - 2006
How to set up a self-initiated residency - Space Studios ‘Shooting Ducks’ series 2005
Making Art out of Thin Air workshop - Brentside High School 2005
Careers in Arts workshop at Dormers Wells School 2005
Creative Arts workshop - Elthorne Park School 2003
Creative communication workshop for Cloud Communications Oct 2002
Relevant teaching & workshop experience
Sessional lecturer
University of Reading Fine Art Dept
Autumn 2018 seminar sessions Modernisms & Mythologies FA1MM
Spring 2019 seminar sessions Bodies of Difference FA21BD
1st year Fine Art studio tutorials
Documenting performance workshop with MA Theatre & Drama students, Royal Holloway University. 2015 x 2 & 2016
Documenting walking performance – workshop with BA Theatre and Contemporary Performance students, SGS College, Bristol. 2014
OPEN Ealing
Pacific North West design - drawing and print 2017
Dale Chihuly sculptures using plastic bottles 2017
Maps and landscapes 2017
Fantastical landscapes card and brown textured paper aerial views
Aboriginal dreamtime inspired gift for Xmas whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2016
Carnival a week of workshops 8-14 yrs creating carnival head dresses and cloak 2016
Klimt whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2016
Fantasy Chairs whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2015
Responding to music 3 different half-day workshops
Freelance 1:1 coaching –life and creativity coaching 2014- present
Certificate coaching skills: (Coaching Academy 2 days) and attendance NLP weekend.
Teacher Years 7-11 Ealing College Upper School Jan 09 –Dec 2011 P/T 2 days/week
Head of Art dept with sole responsibility for running A Level/GCSE and years 7-9
Singled out in Ofsted report for enthusiastic and thoughtful teaching + excellent grades. Support of students with autism, anger management + confidence issues
Initiator/Facilitator Species of Spaces (2007 – present) - setting up a London-based networking and performance opportunity for artists working with performance and visual art to create dialogue through experimental workshops.
Fantastical Landscapes workshop in response to Eve Arnold photographic exhibition, Asia House 2007
Industry Day Dormers Wells School 2005
Making Art out of Thin Air- Brentside High School 2005
Creative Arts workshops x 4 Elthorne Park School 2005
Artist and Main Facilitator of “point and place” 2003-present– a collaborative artists’ limited-edition book involving six artists from different disciplines; introducing the six artists and keeping the project focussed, devising a system of scores to assist with communication between different disciplines, sourcing materials and professionals, desktop publishing (Indesign) and Photoshop, liaising with book fairs, ISBN, writing and successfully obtaining funding, pricing, publicity. Published Nov 2007+ received Birgit Skiold Award 2007. Copies held in National Art Library at V+A, Birmingham Museum library, Yale Center of British Art USA and Tate Gallery archive.
Artist/Project manager for The Campaign for Drawing 2002 )
3 month Freelance artistic commission to create three dance drawing performances at the V+A 2002: creating concept, practical problem solving and sourcing materials, auditioning two dancers, sourcing costume designer, presenting live extract for BBC TV and interview on Radio 4, and archiving at Interface, University of Ulster + ResourceCite.
Workshop Leader Cloud Communications, London 2002 creative seminar for business
Springhallow Autistic School -Creation of an enchanted cloak over 7 days with Autistic pupils aged 4-16 yrs 2002
Outreach Supervisor Royal Academy of Arts Life Drawing class 2001
Co-ordinator for The Campaign for Drawing: 500 members of the public creating the Longest Drawing in the World October 2001
Having left my own successful career to study Fine Art in the 1990s, I understand the value of a fulfilling creative life, and the support needed to achieve it. Clients may focus on a challenging career change or wish to develop creative thinking alongside an established career path outside the arts. I work on a 1:1 basis using a variety of approaches tailored to the individual's needs, allowing the client to set the agenda while I provide non-judgemental support and goal-related focus. I am also particularly committed to expanding young minds through creative experimentation with the arts, as I believe the flexibility of mind it encourages reaps rewards across the curriculum .
- Practising Artists who want a refresher, have recently left University and miss an 'outside eye' or just wish to pursue a new creative paths & goals
- Academic discussion about ideas you might be exploring for thesis or on-going work
- Expanding creative thinking and bringing creative approaches into work life
- Working with young people to expand creative thinking into other core subjects, through art
- Workshops - speciality documenting performance and site investigation
- 'Discovering your creativity' - a course of task-led exercises to help identify your key area and gain confidence
- Portfolio advice/building/gap filling for GCSE, A Level and Art Foundation
- Life coaching
- In Person, Telephone or online Zoom mentoring support
To see a selection of images from workshops and mentoring sessions please scroll over Mentoring button to show Images section
Fees
I offer an affordable, flexible fee structure for both adults and young people
Qualifications
Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate
Member of The Royal British Society of Sculptors
Many years experience teaching on BA Fine Art University of Reading; MA Workshops Royal Holloway Univ London; BA Kingston University
PhD in Fine Art (2022)
MA Art and Space (Distinction)
BA (Fine Art (1st Class Hons)
MSCP qualification in physiotherapy with 14 years experience - speciality intensive care including Supt Physiotherapist at Professor Magdi Yacoub's private hospital.
I have attended courses in Motivational Coaching (including Antony Robbins & Coaching Academy) and NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming)
Experience
Sessional tutor BA Fine Art FA1ART University of Reading
Seminar leader Yr 1 BA Fine Art University Reading Critical engagement with text
Visiting lecturer Documenting Performance, MA Students Royal Holloway, University of London and BA students South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Head of Art, Ealing College Upper School for 3 years (Jan 2009 - Dec 2011) - singled out by Ofsted for 'enthusiastic and thoughtful' teaching
Workshops for Asia House, local schools (including special needs), and Cloud Communications
Workshops for OPEN Ealing - a dynamic platform for the arts, West Ealing
Facilitator for the Longest Drawing in the World for The Big Draw, Campaign for Drawing 1km
Artist/Project manager for 'Arabesque' at the V&A for The Big Draw, Campaign for Drawing
Outreach Supervisor for life drawing class for The Royal Academy of Arts
Responsibility for district-wide respiratory teaching, management of on-call rotas, induction programme to intensive care for juniors and mentoring/assessment of ITU and Cardiac physiotherapy teams at St Bartholomew's Hospital 1987-1992
Self-initiated employment for 18 months in Hong Kong 1985 -1987 - working in the intensive care unit at a specialist (Cantonese-speaking) cardio-thoracic hospital
Testimonials
It’s quite easy to become stuck in one’s art practice and sometimes you just need encouragement and ideas to get going again. Julie visited my studio and we spent a productive morning discussing how I could develop my practice. We covered an array of topics - exhibition opportunities, residencies, presenting yourself online and creative strategies. Julie’s extensive experience of mentoring and supporting others came over strongly in this exercise and she made a number of practical suggestions about how I might move forward. This review has given me new momentum and fresh ways of thinking about my practice. I’m very appreciative of Julie’s mentoring support and her insights into my work. I very much look forward to working with her again in the future. Peter Esslemont, ACAVA Artist
I can vouch for Julie’s extreme reliability, efficiency and project management skills. In 2002, I commissioned her to create a dance piece at the V&A as part of The Big Draw National Launch.....Julie project-managed the performance from start to finish, with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. She was a pleasure to deal with throughout our preparations, and the dance piece met, or rather exceeded, all our expectations.
Sue Grayson Ford, Director, The Campaign for Drawing
I am delighted that Julie and OPEN Ealing have had the opportunity to work together. Julie has provided some inspirational and productive workshops for young people aged up to 14 which have proved extremely popular and resulted in some amazing art. Her ideas and concepts for meaningful but fun sessions go a long way to encouraging people to return to our workshops and everyone says how much they enjoy it (both parents and young people). I thought her workshops based on listening to music and painting what you feel (resulting in a variety of young 'Kandinksys') couldn't be easily surpassed; however her workshop helping students design and create a fantasy chair was truly a triumph and one which will be back by popular demand! Julie's style of teaching and organisation means that everyone gets the most out of the two hour session and at the end of the day they come away with a feeling of satisfaction and OPEN has achieved our aims of making quality contemporary art accessible to all. Thank you Julie.
Mandie Wilde, OPEN Ealing
Julie changed my future. Her constant emphasis on experimentation and thinking analytically led to her success in producing a student who was confident in questioning everything constructively. Julie always took a deep interest in the work and ideas of her students, and in criticising the students’ works she would ask: “What if?” Julie encouraged me to question different possibilities, to not be afraid of trying something new, to endeavour to discover.
Annahita Moradi, Ex-student, graduate MA International Law, SOAS, and written when undertaking Law Pupillage in London
I hope Max can do more of your courses ... you are terrific at broadening their minds about how to tackle Art.
Stephanie Wilkinson
We had some great half term kids' workshops. Big thank you to our Artist/Leaders: Julie Brixey-Williams and Timothy B. Layden. The Kandinsky-inspired explosion of colour and sound made yesterday is truly beautiful. I am proud that we can help promote and educate young (and older) people about Art and Creativity.
Jack Jones, OPEN Ealing
Julie Brixey-Williams gave art lessons to my 9 and 11 year old children. It was fun for them but it was an eye-opening experience for me. Julie made them feel confident in their own decisions and to realise that there is no wrong answer. Having lacked self-assurance in art my daughter particularly embraced the sessions and when she started secondary school this year her art teacher said that she liked teaching my daughter because she was ‘not afraid to make mistakes’. My daughter’s positive approach gave her a great head start to secondary school and I thank Julie for helping her to trust herself; to see things in a different light and to enjoy a fun and creative outlet.
Julie Emig, Head of Marketing, St Martin in the Fields
Julie conducted a wonderful day workshop with my BA students of Theatre and Contemporary Performance. She was highly organised and put a lot of effort into ensuring her session would contribute to the success of the student's project on walking and performance. She was generous with time, knowledge and resources, and her enthusiastic yet open approach to the session meant that any apprehensions about being 'good at art' were replaced with curiosity and inspiration. A thoroughly enjoyable day. Many thanks.
Lizzie Philps, Course Leader, BA Theatre and Contemporary Performance, SGS College, Bristol.
Julie was my life coach last year and I found her exceptional. She helped me focus on my long term and short term goals and achieve them with a plan which was realistic and well structured. She has a wide range of different professional and social experiences, including international placements, so is able to offer a comprehensive, capable life coaching service in a warm empathetic manner.
Dr. Hennah Bashir
I am very grateful to Julie for all the help she has given my seven year old son. Julie’s creativity, experience and professionalism enabled her to create an individual program to improve his voice projection, whilst making him more aware of his posture and diaphragmatic breathing. Julie’s positive and encouraging nature made the sessions fun and a pleasure for him. My son has grown in confidence and has made amazing progress with the clarity of his speech.
Giselle Hazan
Julie devised and ran a highly enjoyable art project for families and children entitled Fantastical Landscapes. She encouraged participants to respond to the photographs in the Eve Arnold in China exhibition in exciting and innovative ways such as creating narratives and exploring the poetry of landscape. Participants then translated their ideas into 3D imaginative landscapes using brown paper, tape and string. The simplicity of the materials really allowed the strength and originality of the designs to shine through. Julie encouraged everyone to explore and manipulate materials in unusual new directions creating a range of shapes, surfaces and textures. The final sculptures were very successful and when placed together, produced a spectacular bird’s eye view effect. I would recommend Julie unreservedly. She is highly organised in every aspect of her work from planning to delivery. She has an encouraging and supportive manner and creates a colourful and inviting learning environment in which people of all abilities can flourish.
Alison Dunne, Education Officer, Asia House
Presentations/Workshops
Making Connections: listening to the landscape - Talk and workshop A2 students, Brockenhurst College, 20th April 2016
Performing the experience in material form - Workshop leader for DT5211, MA in Contemporary Performance Practices, Royal Holloway Dept Drama and Theatre, March 2015 ; Oct 2015; Oct 2016
Documenting walking - workshop for BA Performing Arts students at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College May 2014
Structuring the ‘What If?’ of Walking: starting points for capturing intuitive responses to materials as part of Walking in the city: mapping borders (In the City series) The Parlour Showroom, Bristol 13th Sept 2013
Exposing the Collaborative processes of 'point and place’ - paper at On Collaboration II, Middlesex University 2013
Side by Side - invited contributor to discussion at Siobhan Davies studios 2012
Polyply6 (Scores) -presentation of Step Feather Stitch with Libby Worth, at Centre of Creative Collaboration, London 2011
Anaesthetic: A Temporary Block of Sense - presentation, Symposium at Central St. Martin’s 2010
Anaesthesia News - 3 articles 2004 - 2006
How to set up a self-initiated residency - Space Studios ‘Shooting Ducks’ series 2005
Making Art out of Thin Air workshop - Brentside High School 2005
Careers in Arts workshop at Dormers Wells School 2005
Creative Arts workshop - Elthorne Park School 2003
Creative communication workshop for Cloud Communications Oct 2002
Relevant teaching & workshop experience
Sessional lecturer
University of Reading Fine Art Dept
Autumn 2018 seminar sessions Modernisms & Mythologies FA1MM
Spring 2019 seminar sessions Bodies of Difference FA21BD
1st year Fine Art studio tutorials
Documenting performance workshop with MA Theatre & Drama students, Royal Holloway University. 2015 x 2 & 2016
Documenting walking performance – workshop with BA Theatre and Contemporary Performance students, SGS College, Bristol. 2014
OPEN Ealing
Pacific North West design - drawing and print 2017
Dale Chihuly sculptures using plastic bottles 2017
Maps and landscapes 2017
Fantastical landscapes card and brown textured paper aerial views
Aboriginal dreamtime inspired gift for Xmas whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2016
Carnival a week of workshops 8-14 yrs creating carnival head dresses and cloak 2016
Klimt whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2016
Fantasy Chairs whole day workshop 8-14 yrs 2015
Responding to music 3 different half-day workshops
Freelance 1:1 coaching –life and creativity coaching 2014- present
Certificate coaching skills: (Coaching Academy 2 days) and attendance NLP weekend.
Teacher Years 7-11 Ealing College Upper School Jan 09 –Dec 2011 P/T 2 days/week
Head of Art dept with sole responsibility for running A Level/GCSE and years 7-9
Singled out in Ofsted report for enthusiastic and thoughtful teaching + excellent grades. Support of students with autism, anger management + confidence issues
Initiator/Facilitator Species of Spaces (2007 – present) - setting up a London-based networking and performance opportunity for artists working with performance and visual art to create dialogue through experimental workshops.
Fantastical Landscapes workshop in response to Eve Arnold photographic exhibition, Asia House 2007
Industry Day Dormers Wells School 2005
Making Art out of Thin Air- Brentside High School 2005
Creative Arts workshops x 4 Elthorne Park School 2005
Artist and Main Facilitator of “point and place” 2003-present– a collaborative artists’ limited-edition book involving six artists from different disciplines; introducing the six artists and keeping the project focussed, devising a system of scores to assist with communication between different disciplines, sourcing materials and professionals, desktop publishing (Indesign) and Photoshop, liaising with book fairs, ISBN, writing and successfully obtaining funding, pricing, publicity. Published Nov 2007+ received Birgit Skiold Award 2007. Copies held in National Art Library at V+A, Birmingham Museum library, Yale Center of British Art USA and Tate Gallery archive.
Artist/Project manager for The Campaign for Drawing 2002 )
3 month Freelance artistic commission to create three dance drawing performances at the V+A 2002: creating concept, practical problem solving and sourcing materials, auditioning two dancers, sourcing costume designer, presenting live extract for BBC TV and interview on Radio 4, and archiving at Interface, University of Ulster + ResourceCite.
Workshop Leader Cloud Communications, London 2002 creative seminar for business
Springhallow Autistic School -Creation of an enchanted cloak over 7 days with Autistic pupils aged 4-16 yrs 2002
Outreach Supervisor Royal Academy of Arts Life Drawing class 2001
Co-ordinator for The Campaign for Drawing: 500 members of the public creating the Longest Drawing in the World October 2001