About Julie
Julie Vermeille’s work is based on ink drawings. As she explains: “I like the fluidity of the medium, the surprises that come from the shapes laid on the paper; I like the idea of things happening a little by chance”. She relies greatly on patterned fabrics, which inspire the floral, vegetal elements in her images. They have the reassuring quality of childhood, as well as a powerful folkloric dimension, often having been created from the point of view of a particular culture or group of people. Julie has also used the thread in her work, as a symbol of time, of relations between one space and another; closeness, tightness, as well as breakages and knots.
Recently Julie has worked on a series of books based on fairytales, dealing with the ambiguity of two worlds: the children’s one, and the adult one. As she puts it: “stories for children but with hidden darker meanings, helping the process of growing up, if we ever have to… ”. She adds: “I am inspired by children’s books because of their creativity, their freedom in shape, material, texture and format”.
Julie’s wordless books The Woodies emerged from ink drawings. The Woodies are invented creatures; animal-like in shape, human in character. Julie continues to work on bringing into existence the world that surrounds, feeds and occupies the Woodies. The wordlessness of the Woodies’ world is significant. Julie wishes to allow the shapes and the spaces to “breathe”, and not to overburden the viewer with guidance on how to look at the book. The drawings should be enough to suggest a narrative.
It isn’t far to go from space as a system of clearly marked intervals between objects, to intervals in music. Julie cites music as a great source of inspiration, for what she calls its “intangible aspects”. She means by this the capacity of absolute music to move a listener by expressing thoughts and emotions without using language, even if the listener has no musical training.
Born in France in 1981, Julie Vermeille moved to England in 1999. She studied a BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at the London College of Printing and graduates in 2004 from a BA (hons) in Illustration in Camberwell College of Arts ( both in London). She has been part of the Craft Central Designer network since 2007 and as well as having produced her own hand bound books, she has been working for Creaturemag and has been published in a Fil Rouge Press book.She has been involved in various collaboration work including exhibiting with Chocolate Rain and doing some workshop with the House of Fairy Tales.
COMMISSIONS & PUBLICATIONS
- Stitching Pictures, A & C Publications, May 2012
- MERGE (5 new international emerging artists), Basheer Publications,2011
- “Chansons pour nourrissons “ Concept album for children with French singer songwriter, Laurent Pierquin. Designing the book and illustrating the songs. 2011 - New Fairy Tale magazine Issue 6, November 2010- “Arthur seat”, a children’s book story by Margo Fallis, self publication,2010
- Creaturemag.com, Regular illustrations since 2008 - “Fashion Maths”, a book about craft tutorials, Fil Rouge Press.Ltd, 2010 - Chocolate Rain Design for Jewellery 2009 - “A horse holiday “, A children story by Deborah Lewis, self publication, 2009 EXHIBITIONSOpen studio weekend Craft Central,EC1, London,UK
Open studio weekend Craft Central,EC1, London,UK
Open studio weekend Craft Central,EC1, London, UK
Craft Central Gallery
Clerkenwell, London,UK
* December 2009
“The Horn of Plenty”
Victor Wind’s Little shop of Horrors
11 Mare Street, Shoreditch, London,UK
Group Exhibition with The House Of Fairy Tales
*27- 29 November 2009
Craft Central
Saint John’s street,
Clerkenwell, London,UK
Open studio weekend
*31st October 2009 – 15 January2010
The New Art Gallery
Walsall, West Midlands, England,UK
Group Exhibition with The House Of Fairy Tales
*10 Octobre – 29 November 2009
“Promenade avec des creatures des Bois” / “Woodland Creatures”
Gallerie Libres Cours
La Roche, Saint Cyr La Rosiere, 61, France
Solo Exhibition
* 18-20 September 2009
“Festival Portfolio 2009″
La Bellevilloise, 20eme arrondissement, Paris,France
Group Exhibition in collaboration with Krabo Illustration magazine
*22-25 May 2009
“The caravan of fairy tales”
Tate Modern
Bankside, London,UK
Workshop and performances with The House Of Fairy Tales
*24- 26 July 2009
Port Elliot Festival
Saint Germans, Cornwall, England,UK
Workshop and Performance with The House Of Fairy Tales
*24th June – 11th July 2009
Manor Gardens
Holloway Road, London,UK
Solo Exhibition
*May 2009
Craft Central
Clerkenwell, London,UK
Open studio weekend
*March – April 2009
“Why Throw away your memories”
” Passeuse, une histoire sur ma grand mere ”
Times Square, Hong Kong
Exhibition in collaboration avec Chocolate Rain
*December 2008
“Fete”
Dalston, London,UK
Exhibition – Workshop in collaboration with Creaturemag
*November 2008
Craft Central
Clerkenwell, London,UK
Open studio weekend
*May 2008
Craft Central
Clerkenwell, London,UK
Open studio weekend
*March 2005
” Face to Face”
Candid arts Gallery
Angel, London,UK
Group Exhibition
* June 2004
“Illustration Showcase”
Camberwell College of Arts , London,UK
Group Exhibition
*February 2004
“The Art of Communication”
Ofcom, Riverside House, London,UK
Group Exhibition
*April 2003
” Urbanites”
London – New York,USA
Group Exhibition
*March 2003
“We read not to be alone”
Calder bookshop
The cut, London,UK
Group Exhibition