Hello! Parkwood Springs here, and we are really excited to bring to you a new blog series where we re-introduce you to all of our wonderful artists. If you’ve been following us online, on our social media, or work with us regularly – you should hopefully know a few of the artists and their brilliant work, but if you don’t, you’ll get all caught up on the endlessly colourful world of Parkwood Springs!
Julia Gash is a globally recognised, British artist and creative entrepreneur who holds a deep and long-held passion for geography and art. Julia is best known for her unique hand-drawn illustrations, brought to life in her unique, naïve, child-like style with brush and ink. We offer a wide portfolio of Julia Gash ranges such as Cityscapes, Dasher, Sea Critters, and Love Wins.
To jump back to the beginning of the creative story of Julia Gash is to visit her in her childhood, where you’ll find an eight-year-old Julia travelling and camping around Europe with her family. It’s here she first experienced a sense of discovery and wonder for the wide world around her, which had extended far beyond her upbringing in England. In these summer holidays, she would draw castles, palaces, zoos, and the beaches she would visit with her sisters and parents!
Over the years, Julia has created almost two thousand iconic illustrations of cities, towns, and regions from all over the world. These have been made into stylish souvenirs that are available for retailers, businesses, organisations, and other licensees globally. You can find Julia’s cute and colourful, map themed illustrations printed as art prints, onto tote bags, coasters, notebooks and more.
Julia’s inspiration comes from her love of people and places. Residing in Sussex, you can find Julia either surrounded by her cats and chickens, wild swimming throughout the year or hiking the coastal paths or bleak but beautiful moorland.
She also practises yoga to maintain her core focus and suppleness, which is a welcome break from time spent creating her colourful art at her drawing board. Julia Gash is also recognised as a successful, serial, creative entrepreneur, having won the Institute of Director’s top award as a Business Leader during her time at BIDBI, which she founded in 2007 and led to become a fast-growth, eco-manufacturing facility in Sheffield. She sold BIDBI as an MBO ten years later to give herself time to focus on her art. Based in Sheffield, BIDBI has continued to innovate and impress in the world of eco-friendly cotton tote bags, and has recently entered into the non-textile, eco-friendly promotional product world.
