Artists / Julie Hockin
The word 'Odyssey' sums up Julie Hockin's life over the last thirty years. Pencil drawing was her first love followed closely by miniature painting, and she used her talent for these to earn a living after she returned to Cornwall with her young daughter. Adventures along the way included painting on mother-of-pearl, agate and other semi precious stones to create jewellery from her miniature designs. Such was her skill that she was made a member of the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists and an associate of the Royal Miniature Society.
Continuing this journey, she started designing and publishing bookmarks, and together with her miniatures, sold them at local Cornish Craft Markets. This led to joining forces with Henry Roberts to form Hockin & Roberts Limited. Through the medium of The Julie Hockin Collection her designs for gift stationery, greetings cards and prints can be found throughout the UK and in many parts of the world.
Once she was part of a company, created especially to publish and market her work, Julie was able to experiment with new ideas and techniques. Larger watercolour paintings (A4) were now her metier, but when time allowed, miniatures were still the order of the day. Her skilful depictions of cats provided the entré to the Society of Feline Artists (SOFA).
As time went by miniature painting became more of a strain. The technique also changed to soft, misty wet-in-wet watercolour backgrounds, but still with the detailed subject matter of her miniature days.
In 2002 the journey came to a temporary halt due to a trapped nerve in the vertebrae in her neck. For eight months it was impossible for her to hold a pencil, let alone paint. The intense frustration of having a mind full of ideas and no way of putting them on paper can only be appreciated by another artist. The eight months dragged interminably. She began to wonder if she would ever paint again. Thankfully the trapped nerve healed, and Julie went back to her studio. She is now retired, but her work continues to be the backbone of the Hockin & Roberts range.
Continuing this journey, she started designing and publishing bookmarks, and together with her miniatures, sold them at local Cornish Craft Markets. This led to joining forces with Henry Roberts to form Hockin & Roberts Limited. Through the medium of The Julie Hockin Collection her designs for gift stationery, greetings cards and prints can be found throughout the UK and in many parts of the world.
Once she was part of a company, created especially to publish and market her work, Julie was able to experiment with new ideas and techniques. Larger watercolour paintings (A4) were now her metier, but when time allowed, miniatures were still the order of the day. Her skilful depictions of cats provided the entré to the Society of Feline Artists (SOFA).
As time went by miniature painting became more of a strain. The technique also changed to soft, misty wet-in-wet watercolour backgrounds, but still with the detailed subject matter of her miniature days.
In 2002 the journey came to a temporary halt due to a trapped nerve in the vertebrae in her neck. For eight months it was impossible for her to hold a pencil, let alone paint. The intense frustration of having a mind full of ideas and no way of putting them on paper can only be appreciated by another artist. The eight months dragged interminably. She began to wonder if she would ever paint again. Thankfully the trapped nerve healed, and Julie went back to her studio. She is now retired, but her work continues to be the backbone of the Hockin & Roberts range.
Other Artists
Julie Hockin
SOFA
Heather O Catchpole
RMS, HSF, MASSA
Jane B Gibson
RMS, HS
Commander Geoff Hunt
RMS, HS