Julian Friers PPRUA
1956 Born Bangor Co.Down
Attended University of Ulster College of Art
1976 Embarked on career as a wildlife painter
1995 Elected to Royal Ulster Academy of Arts
2009 Elected President of Royal Ulster Academy of Arts
It was through his Father, a wood sculptor who had an interest in the natural world, that Julian Friers developed the love of wildlife that was to shape his career in art. But even before the first forays into the world of birds and mammals there was drawing. That process was a completely natural one in a household that was so inclined towards the visual arts. His Father, Ian, was a wood sculptor, an academician in the RUA and a regular exhibitor in Belfast, and his uncle Rowel was very much a part of Ulster life in his commentary through cartoon. The atmosphere then was shaped by imagery and Julian subsequently found himself at Art College in Belfast in the mid seventies in what he considered a logical next stage in his education. It proved a difficult time, however, and he left after a single term, intent on learning to paint through his own experience.
He was greatly encouraged to concentrate on bird painting by Tom Cromie, a gallery owner from Bangor, and by the wildlife artist Robert Milliken who exhibited there. Julian undertook his first exhibition at the Tom Cromie Gallery in 1977 when he joined with botanical artist Elizabeth McEwan. After the success of that show he was offered another the following year – his first solo exhibition.
Shortly after the Bangor shows Julian completed work for the Castle Espie Gallery and so began a close relationship with Paddy and Julie Mackie which has continued to this day. Work for galleries elsewhere was undertaken – the Tryon in London and the McEwan Gallery in Ballater among them, while further involvements with both art and wildlife conservation organisations were to follow. Julian has been involved with RSPB, BTO, IWC, WWT and other international conservation groups. He has exhibited in group shows, alongside the world’s most important wildlife artists, in the natural history museums of London and Bonn as well as projects in the Netherlands and America.
In 1998 he was commissioned to design the first Irish Duck Stamp for the American Duck Stamp Programme. In 1996 he embarked on a major commission by the International Foundation for the Conservation and Development of Wildlife, a group centred in the middle east. This involved the painting of thirty two large canvases featuring desert wildlife which would then illustrate a limited edition book. The project, and book, was entitled ‘Gifts from the Desert’ and in 1999 the original artwork went on tour internationally. Julian’s interest in conservation in the middle east continues with further projects in progress.
Julian was elected President of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts in 2009, a position he held for three years.
In 2017 Julian embarked on a project which explored Ireland of the past and the animals that inhabited it, both historically and prehistorically. The resulting twenty large canvases feature mammals, birds and fish as well as reptiles and dinosaurs. A collaboration with the palaeontologist Mike Simms helped ensure authenticity.
In 2019 the entire series of paintings was acquired by the National Museums of Northern Ireland for the national collection.
He continues to live and work in Ireland near it's Atlantic north coast.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Sea Holly Gallery, Belfast
2015 Naughton Gallery, Belfast
2015 Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen
2013 London Street Gallery, Derry
2011 Gormley Gallery, Belfast
2010 Castle Espie Gallery
2008 Killarney Art Gallery
2006 Killarney Art Gallery
2002 Burg al Arab, Dubaii
2001 Smithsonian Institute, Washington
2001 Mall Gallery, London
2000 Castle Espie Gallery
1998 Dublin Castle
1998 McEwan Gallery Ballater
1996 McEwan Gallery Ballater
1994 Castle Espie Gallery
1992 Castle Espie Gallery
1990 Ulster Bank HQ Belfast
1988 Tinchel Gallery Dublin
1987 Castle Espie Gallery
1985 Milliken Gallery, Greyabbey
1982 Grendor Gallery, Holywood
1979 Tom Cromie Gallery, Bangor
1977 Tom Cromie Gallery, Bangor
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 ‘Dippy’ Ulster Museum
2012 ‘Duet’ Flowerfield Arts Centre
2012 Royal Ulster Academy at Glebe Gallery, Donegal
2006 Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon
2005 Birds in Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson, Wisconsin
2001 Texel, in Schoonheid Verbeeld Netherlands
1995 Society of Wildlife Artists, London
1993 The Artist’s View, Wisconsin
1992 Artists for Nature Foundation, Netherlands
1991 Wildlife Painters, Kunst Museum, Bonn
1991 Royal Hibernian Academy
1990 – 2015 Royal Ulster Academy
1989-90, 2000,2003-4 LYWAM Wisconsin
1989, 90, 91 Society of Wildlife Artists, London
1988 Natural History Museum, London
AWARDS AND COMMISSIONS
2002 Commissioned painting for Dubaii Royal Family
1998 First Irish Duck Stamp
1996 Commissioned painting for Moroccan Royal Family
1996 Commissioned paintings for Saudi Arabian Royal Family
1993 Awarded Silver Medal RUA
1981 Mural in Belfast, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2004 Dear Animals
2002 Gifts from the Desert
2000 RUA Diploma Collection, by Martin Anglesea
2000 One Hundred Years of Irish Art, by Eamonn Mallie
2000 Texel in schoonheid verbeeld
1992 Schiermonikoog
COLLECTIONS
Ulster Museum
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wisconsin
Library of Congress, Washington
British Library, London
RUA Diploma Collection
Royal collections in Dubai, Morocco and Saudi Arabia
National Self-Portrait Collection