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Lecturing, Coaching and Mentoring
I offer teaching to young adults, portfolio reviews, established artists wishing to refresh or adults wishing to start their creative journeys through to workshops & academic support at BA & MA level. Having left a previous 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. I hold an Enhanced DBS Criminal Record Certificate.
Fees
I offer an affordable, flexible fee structure for both adults and young people. Please use the Contact page (above) to get in touch.
Experience
Academic Support Co-ordinator Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
Arts Emergency (award winning mentoring charity for young people in the creative arts) mentor 2024-2025
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 (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
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
I offer teaching to young adults, portfolio reviews, established artists wishing to refresh or adults wishing to start their creative journeys through to workshops & academic support at BA & MA level. Having left a previous 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. I hold an Enhanced DBS Criminal Record Certificate.
Fees
I offer an affordable, flexible fee structure for both adults and young people. Please use the Contact page (above) to get in touch.
- 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 place/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
Experience
Academic Support Co-ordinator Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
Arts Emergency (award winning mentoring charity for young people in the creative arts) mentor 2024-2025
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 (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
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
