Fumage artist Julie Willan

Bio

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was always sketching—fantasy figures, animals, and whatever characters my imagination dreamed up—usually with a pencil or pen in hand. I’ve always loved realism and the challenge of capturing life as I saw it on paper.

In 1982, my family moved to California, where I dove into studying illustration and graphic design. But my love for horses led me down a different path for a while, and I found myself pursuing a career in horse training, first in California and later in Texas.

It was in Texas that I decided to make a big shift. I started my own business creating custom wall finishes and murals for homes and businesses. Over the years, the business grew and gave me the chance to explore a wide variety of art styles—Chinoiserie, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, abstract work, and even fumage, to name a few. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey that’s spanned over three decades.

When my family and I moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina, we found a peaceful four-acre property in the mountains. One of the first things I did was build a new art studio, giving me the perfect space to experiment with different mediums and continue creating.