Downtime in Deepest Sussex

August 07, 2023

Julia Gash British Travel Artist

Day after day, I draw. I love it. Creating my map themed illustrations for retailers around the world is a joy. I feel centred through the creative process and love the journey from design brief, to illustration, hurdling through the approval process to result in a best selling homewares and giftware collections such as this one for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.

Hong Kong illustration printed onto a ceramic mug by Julia Gash

That said, I spend hours sat at a desk, staring closely at a computer and drawing board, holding a fine paint brush loaded with ink. To balance this intensity, I take time out and invest in my health and well being through yoga practice throughout the week, together with dance fitness, early morning sea swims and walking over the Downs, which are a hop, skip and a jump from my back door.

Julia Gash The South Downs

My passion for travel and art is fed through my work and this summer I took it a step further by getting myself a camper van for my 60th birthday. I can now draw whilst I explore. Hello Bertha!

Julia Gash and Bertha the Camper Van

Last weekend, Bertha and I headed to deepest Sussex and to the annual Good Vibrations Society festival. A marvellous mix of yoga, meditation, nature and music.

Through Yin yoga and Vinyasa, Pranayama and Hatha classes, I was immersed into a world that I adore. I danced through the night to some great tunes and DJ sounds and felt more like 16 than 60, such are the joys of frequent yoga practice, the best anti ageing treatment available in my opinion :-)

Julia Gash Yoga by Sara Alice Lee

The rain poured and thunder rolled whilst we breathed deeply through our yin yoga practice. Wellies and wristbands were the key fashion accessory this weekend! When the sun finally came through, the Ashdown Forest, home to our holistic weekend in deepest Sussex, glinted and shone, as did we.