JULIA ANN ATKINS
Curriculum Vitae
City and Guilds Beadwork Part 1 July 2004
City and Guilds Beadwork Part 2 July 2005
Exhibitions/Competitions:
In Full Bloom: First Place beaded object – Caravan Beads of Chicago 2005, U.S.A.
Floral Fan: Bead International 2008 - Dairy Barn Arts Center in Ohio, U.S.A.
Yellow Bird Fan: Bead and Button Show June 2008 – Milwaukee, U.S.A.
Remembrance Fan: Woman Made Gallery Oct – Nov 2008 –Chicago, U.S.A.
Mixed Bouquet Fan: Beadworkers Guild Exhibition Aug – Oct 2009 – Northampton Museum.
Remembrance Fan: Beadworkers Guild Exhibition Aug – Oct 2009 – Northampton Museum.
Fairies Fan: Finalist in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2010 Seed Bead competition, U.S.A.
Butterflies Fan: Bronze Medal prize in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2010 Seed Bead competition, U.S.A.
Autumn Leaves Fan: 2nd Place in the British Bead Awards 2012
Beaded Angel: 2nd Place - Royal Welsh Winter Show Handicrafts Section 2012
Fish Mobile: 2nd Place – Royal Welsh Summer Show Handicrafts Section 2013
Beaded Button – Macclesfield Silk Museum ‘Button Project’ July – Aug 2013
Green Man Mask: Beadworkers Guild 2014 Challenge - Members' favourite
The Great Gasby Mask: Beadworkers Guild 2015 Challenge.
Seasons Trinket Boxes: Beadworkers Guild 2016 Challenge.
Pieridae Necklace: Finalist in International Bead Artists 2016
Kai Necklace: Beadworkers Guild 2017 Challenge.
Pieridae Necklace: Stuttgart Bead Fair Exhibition April 2017 - Germany.
Evolution of the Wheel Necklace: International Bead Artists 2017
Isadora Waistcoat: Finalist in Bead and Button Show June 2017 - Milwaukee, U.S.A.
Rudbeckia Necklace: Beadworkers Guild 2018 Challenge
Publications:
Bead International 2008: The Dairy Barn Arts Center (Pink Floral Fan)
Bead & Button Magazine supplement: 80 works of Bead Artists. August 2008 (Yellow Bird Fan)
Celebrating Beadwork by The Beadworkers Guild 2009
- In Full Bloom 2005
- Fireworks Fascinator 2006
- Chicago Necklace 2007
- Dragon Fan 2008
Beadworkers Guild Journal October 2015: Two page article on my beaded fans.
Perlen Poesie Magazine December 2016: Pieridae Necklace
Beadworkers Guild Journal July 2016: 'Seasons' Boxes.
Beadworker's Guild Journal July 2017: 'Kai' Necklace.
Beadworkers Guild Journal January 2018: 'Icicle/Kai' Necklace pattern.
Beadworkers Guild Journal July 2019: 'Paradise' lampshade
Membership
UK Beadworkers Guild
Florida West Coast Bead Society, U.S.A.
Florida Gulf Coast Bead Society, U.S.A.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I have been absorbed by beads for the last twelve years and love the wide ranging colour palette of the tiny high quality Japanese glass beads. The technique of interlocking beads together by thread is an ancient art which I learnt while studying a City and Guilds course on Beadweaving.
Photographs are manipulated into an intricate bead pattern using computer technology and each piece is individually designed so is unique in creation.
Inspiration comes from the natural world but fantasy themes are also explored: Colour, form, intricacy, seduction and obsession; beadwork has all of these.
I have taught in Cape Town, Chicago, Florida and for the Beadworkers Guild as well as a variety of places in the UK and enjoy passing this skill onto others. Weaving together pattern and imagery, I like to create a piece which combines design, craftsmanship, function and beauty.