Last chance to see abstract exhibition at The Birley in Preston

The Birley ready for Julie Saul's exhibition Surfacing — The Birley ready for Julie Saul’s exhibition Surfacing Pic: The Birley

This weekend is the last chance before Christmas to see The Birley’s final exhibition of 2024.

The exhibition, titled Surfacing, is a collection of work by abstract painter Julie Saul. It has been curated by Birley member Julie Mayer.

After launching earlier this month, the exhibition will finish tomorrow (Saturday 21 December) until the new year.

Julie at the launch of her solo exhibition, which was attended by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Phil Crowe — Julie at the launch of her exhibition, which was attended by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Phil Crowe Pic: Julie Saul

Julie’s painting practice involves gestural brushwork and bright colours, and is described as “setting up dialogues that probe memory of lived experiences and observations”.

Julie studied Graphic Design at Blackpool College in the 1980s, after which she moved to the Netherlands where she lived for 10 years working in graphic design, illustration and engineering drawing.

She returned to England in the late 1990s to raise her family, later undertaking a BA Fine Art at St Martin’s College in Lancaster and then continuing her studies at UCLan where she graduated in MA Fine Art Painting and Printmaking in 2006.

Speaking about her work, Julie said: “My paintings are informed by everyday experiences, observations and memory. These works consist of bright colours, revealing and concealing layers beneath by scratching and scraping back the paint. This process involves ways of using paint and finding ways they can coexist.”

When it reopens after Christmas, Surfacing will be available to view between 11am and 4pm on Thursday 9, Friday 10, and Saturday 11 January.

The Birley is located in Birley Street in the city centre.

For more information, follow @birleystudios on Instagram and @julie.saul.art on Instagram.

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