Seaside, Riverside, Treeside

Seaside, Riverside, Treeside is an exhibition of over 30 paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works by Edinburgh-based artist Julie Galante. The works form a record of hours spent immersed in nature. Materials used range from the conventional (pastels, watercolours) to items created using objects from the environment, including botanical inks made from foraged plants. 

Art & Design Library, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG

3 - 29 August 2026

Monday: 10am – 8pm

Tuesday: 10am – 8pm

Wednesday: 10am – 8pm

Thursday: 10am – 5pm

Friday: 10am – 5pm

Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Painting with Plants: June 2025 Exhibition at Stockbridge Library

My exhibition Painting with Plants is up at the Stockbridge Library in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 2 to 28 June 2025.

11 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA

Opening hours:

• Monday: 1pm to 8pm

• Tuesday: 10am to 5pm

• Wednesday: 1pm to 8pm

• Thursday: 10am to 5pm

• Friday: 10am to 5pm

• Saturday: 10am to 5pm

I started experimenting with making my own art supplies several years ago, and in 2023 I challenged myself to deepen this knowledge by creating inks out of 100 different plants. The result was a surprisingly diverse array of colours derived from foraged plants (eg nettles, fuchsias, alder cones), cultivated plants (eg roses, crocosmias, eucalyptus), and kitchen scraps (eg onion skins, avocado stones, turmeric).

I’ve been exploring different ways of using my botanical inks in my artwork, either on their own or in combination with other materials. These inks have their own particular properties and ways of behaving that can be a challenge to use. I’m enjoying the learning process, and the chance to deepen my connection to the plants growing around me.

The pieces in this exhibition all contain some of my handmade botanical inks.

I’ll also be running my half-day workshop Introduction to Botanical Ink on 1 August.

November-December Exhibitions 2024

I have work in two upcoming group exhibitions here in Edinburgh.

Reasons to Be Cheerful (30 Nov - 20 Dec) is a curated group exhibition of artists’ books at Upright Gallery (3 Barclay Terrace) which should prove to be a lot of fun. An altered book of mine will be on display, alongside some beautiful work from a variety of local book artists.

Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show features work from dozens of Scottish artists and raises funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. The exhibition runs in person this weekend (30 Nov - 1 Dec, 10am - 4pm) at the Cornerstone Centre, St John’s Church; it continues online through 8 December. Two of my mixed-media Edinburgh pieces will be available.

Exhibition of mixed-media portraits 3-29 April 2024

Several new mixed-media portraits of mine are on display at Stockbridge Library in Edinburgh through 29 April 2024.

Opening Hours

Monday: 1pm to 8pm

Tuesday: 10am to 5pm

Wednesday: 1pm to 8pm

Thursday: 10am to 5pm

Friday: 10am to 5pm

Saturday: 10am to 5pm

Most of the work on display is available for sale, and shipping is available. Please get in touch if you’re interested in making a purchase or to inquire about a commission.

Poet Aonghas MacNeacail, mixed media on sanguine paper, 42x30cm

2017 Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show

Some of my mixed-media Edinburgh art will be available at the Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show, 24-27 August 2017. 

A Woman's Place: an exploration of home and belonging (August 2017)

An exhibition of my new artwork will take place at the Edinburgh Central Library on George IV Bridge on 2-30 August. The show will include around 40 paintings and mixed-media works, including figurative pieces, Edinburgh scenes, and portraits. 

Art and Design Library, 7 George IV Bridge, Old Town, Edinburgh
Mon - Wed  10 - 8
Thu - Sat  10 - 5

This body of work started out as a study of the relationships between people and places: how one’s location and proximity to other people affects one’s mental state and well-being. The themes and subjects have grown and developed with the events of the past year. The power of groups of women became evident to me in the women’s marches taking place all over the world, as well as in the close-knit group of female friends who supported me through my husband’s leukemia diagnosis and treatment. His death in April of this year left me reeling, person-less and place-less. Much of the artwork I have created since then is an exploration of my new role of young widow. And finally, many of the pieces in this exhibition celebrate Edinburgh, the city in which I know I belong. There is very little certainty in my life right now, but one thing I know for sure is that this city is my home.

Julie Galante is a painter and mixed-media artist based in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Her artwork focuses on people and places real and imagined. As someone who has lived in several different countries, she is particularly intrigued by the ways in which one’s location can affect a person’s inner and outer life.

2016 Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show: 25-28 August

Two of my mixed-media Edinburgh pieces have been selected for the 2016 Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to purchase original work and prints from hundreds of local artists, with at least 50% of all sales going to Macmillan Cancer Support. More information on their website. 

Art in Granton Exhibition, 18-20 March 2016

Two of my Scottish seaside pieces will be on display at the Art in Granton exhibition.

December 2015: Art Inspired by Travel at Stockbridge Library, Edinburgh

This month at Stockbridge Library there's an exhibition of 18 artworks inspired by places where I've lived and traveled.

Entitled 'Art Inspired by Travels Near and Far,' the exhibition is on now through the end of December 2015. It includes images of Scotland, Japan, Italy, and more.

Stockbridge Library is on Hamilton Place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Opening times are as follows: Mon & Wed 1-8pm; Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 10am - 5pm.

Art and Travel at Edinburgh Art Fair, 13-15 November 2015

My paintings will be on display at the Art in Healthcare stall at the Edinburgh Art Fair at the Corn Exchange, which takes place 13-15 November 2015. 

I'll be giving a presentation about art and travel at the art fair on Sunday, 15 November, at 2:30pm. Email admin@artinhealthcare.org.uk to pre-book your free place at this presentation, as places are limited.

There will also be a charity reception at the Edinburgh Art Fair on the evening of Friday 13 Nov, 6-8.30pm and Art in Healthcare is selling tickets for this event to raise funds for their activities. 

Art in Healthcare is a national charity whose vision is for original, contemporary art to be accessible to everyone in healthcare environments. This work involves displaying artwork in hospitals for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff and leading art workshops for people with health conditions.  Art in Healthcare works in partnership with other health charities and the NHS to make use of art in a range of treatment, wellbeing and recovery programmes. 

New Paintings of Scotland at the Stockbridge Library 3-23 September 2015

New oil paintings and mixed media pieces by Julie Galante featuring Stockbridge, Edinburgh, and the Highlands are on display at the Stockbridge Library through 23 September 2015.

Opening hours are as follows: Mon & Wed 1-8pm; Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 10am - 5pm.

2015 Macmillan Art Show, 27-30 Aug

I'm pleased to say that two pieces of mine have been selected for the 2015 Macmillan Art Show at Bonhams. More details are available on the exhibition's website.