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About

“ Its all about the light...

I love how the play of light can reveal so many colours on the skin of an elephant, sandy soil, or reveal the iridescent feathers of a bird. How it effects tone & contrast, and how it casts an abstract shape of shadow ”

Julia Cassels - Wildlife Artist

It takes a profound knowledge of African wildlife to capture the fluidity of movement that Julia achieves in her work. A decade spent living in the bush in Zambia and subsequently Tanzania, has given her a deep and sympathetic understanding  of her subjects and imbues her paintings with an intensity that can only exist as a result of such prolonged experience.

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Julia Cassels - Wildlife Artist
Julia Cassels - Wildlife Artist

"I love to sketch. The fluidity and simplicity of line can say so much"

As a specialist in both ink and watercolour, Julia’s technical capabilities allow her to treat these traditional mediums with a contemporary twist. By using Indian Ink, often enriched with watercolour, she is able to achieve an even greater sense of depth, whilst maintaining the characteristic flowing style and fluid line that is so essential to her work.

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More recently Julia has transitioned to oils, yet she has managed to maintain the luminous subtlety of her watercolours.

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Julia’s work is found in many collections worldwide, and having returned to England she now paints and sculpts from her studio in Hampshire. Following the publication of her first book book 'How to Capture Movement in Your Paintings', she has since gone on to contribute to several other art books.

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She runs art courses and workshops from her studio, and works as a specialist art tutor on trips to Zambia and Europe.

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"Back in the studio, I always prefer to work from my sketches rather than a photo. Even if the sketch is only a tangle of lines, I have caught the essence that I want to translate into a painting. And most importantly I was there… And working from my sketches takes me back to that moment"

 AWARDS
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The Elizabeth Hosking Award for best watercolour at the David Shepherd
Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025

The David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year Exhibition has become the most prestigious
and renowned Wildlife Art Exhibition, with artist from across the world. The exhibition showcases
a vast variety of talent and creativity, and also raises vital funds for wildlife and conservation projects supported by the Davide Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). 
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Winner of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2021

for the organisation Artists for Painted Dogs and other Wildlife (AFPD). AFPD is a collaborative exhibition of contemporary wildlife artists and photographers from around the world, who's exhibitions thus far have raised over £100,000 for conservation.  
Shadow on Concrete Wall

Publications

Julia Cassels - Capture Movement in Your Painting

HOW TO CAPTURE MOVEMENT IN YOUR PAINTING

Author: Julia Cassels 

   

Published by Quarto Publishing Plc  

1996

ISBN 1-85410-442-X

ISBN 0-89134-734-8  (American Version)

Julia Cassels - Watercolour Techniques

WATERCOLOUR TECHNIQUES FOR ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS

Artist Contributor

 

Published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd   2020

ISBN  978-0-2414-1331-9

Juloa Cassels - Wildlife Artist - Books she has contributed to

ARTIST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FOLLOWING BOOKS

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COMPLETE WATERCOLOUR 

Author David Webb,

Published by Quarto Publishing Plc   2016     

ISBN 978-85762-147-4

 

HANDS, FACES AND FIGURES 

Author Angela Gair

Published by Quarto Publishing plc   1991

ISBN  0-289-80063-3

 

THE ARTIST'S SKETCHBOOK 

Author Lucy Watson

Published by Quarto Publishing & North Light Books   2001

ISBN  0 00 713325 1  (Hardback Version)

ISBN  1-58180-211-0  (Paperback version)

 

THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WATERCOLOUR TECHNIQUES 

Authors Diana Craig & Hazel Harrison

Published by Quarto Publishing Plc   2010

ISBN  -13: 978-0-7624-4050-4

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