Julia Fulford-Kirby

Julia grew up in Sydney, Australia with her two elder sisters and father. Eighteen months after her father remarried the family moved to England when Julia was eight years old. A year later she had a new half-sister. From a young age Julia’s two passions in life were her love of horses and art. After finishing school Julia attended Art College and then at the age of eighteen she moved back to Australia with a desire to reunite with her mother. Julia’s initial years back in Australia saw her exploring modelling opportunities. She established and ran The NSW School of Modelling for three years before selling the business. Julia then returned to England for the Summer, working in London and spending time with her father and sisters.
Returning to Australia, Julia moved to Dunk Island in Far North Queensland to work. Her island life gave her the opportunity to work on her art and this led to an exhibition of her works. The island also offered her the opportunity to be with her other love, horses. She would take the resort guests out on guided rides around the island. Returning to Sydney, Julia became a horse riding instructor located at the original Sydney Showground at Moore Park, where she also focused on training and competing on her own horses. Her art was put to one side at this time as her full focus was consumed by her equestrian life, a passion that she shared with her first husband who she met through working at the riding school.

Feeling a need to fulfil her artistic side Julia went back to college to study ceramics. A life-changing medium for her artwork resulting in her first ceramics exhibition, Expressions of Life, a sell-out on the opening night. Her priorities changed and she stopped her professional equestrian life, now riding her horses purely for the love of riding and nothing more.

Working from her studio at home she supplied works to many galleries and shops around NSW. Julia’s focus changed towards her work as she developed new ideas that culminated into her three major exhibitions, Humanity On The Cross, Celebrities On The Cross, and Athletes In Action. (see ‘About Julia’s art’). These exhibitions garnered a great deal of media coverage and publicity, with Julia and her works appearing on several television programmes. During the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Julia also worked as the Marketing Manager for Sydney Art Gallery, while her exhibition, Athletes in Action, was highlighted throughout that year.

After several hectic years working on back-to-back exhibitions Julia took a step away from her art and established Fit & Fun Personal Training, specialising in corporate fitness programmes and one-on-one training. Julia had qualified as a personal trainer years before and had kept a keen interest in the fitness and wellbeing industry. Julia now divides her time between Sydney, Cairns in Far North Queensland and England. As co-owner of studioEDGE with her architect partner she takes advantage of her artistic talents working with interior design and colour co-ordination for their clients, ranging from private homes, commercial properties and resort hotels. Julia also imports Asian furniture and artefacts to complement her own artworks in their design gallery.

Julia started her writing career with her memoir, Echoes of Eve, a heartfelt story of love, loss and betrayal. Depicting a lifetime of memories, mistakes and triumphs, it is told by a women searching for answers, and through the written word she finds her most expressive art form yet.
Julia’s second book, a novel entitled, My Secret Self, is a story about identity, who we are and what it means, is due to be published next year. Julia is currently working on her third book, an historical novel entitled, "Reflecting Grace".