I am a web designer who creates clean, minimal, image focused, bespoke WordPress websites for artists and arts organisations.
Specialising in websites for artists, writers, arts organisations and other clients with great images as the main focus of their website, I install WordPress and an agreed theme, then design a site that is right for your business and your digital skills.
I often work in partnership with Colin Usher, my husband. Our combined digital and design experience, plus ability to listen and advise, ensures our clients get the website they desire.
Click here to see a few examples of websites I have designed and built
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:
HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
Because I live in South West France (just south of Agen), the easiest and quickest way to get started is for us to organise a video chat to discuss your aims and ambitions for the website and to agree on some key dates.
If you do not have a website yet, you will need to get a Host and Domain name for the site. I can advise on this if you like.
Once this is in place, I will install a database at your host and WordPress on your website. I always use WordPress for my websites.
WordPress is free, incredibly popular (used by millions of people!) and also really easy to learn how to update, so you will be able to manage your future website updates independently, after a little *training from me of course! More about WordPress.
I will then install an agreed Theme and design and build your bespoke website based on your own desires for the look, feel, and functionality.
*After the launch of your shiny new website, I will make you some training videos and ‘How To’ help sheets, specific to your own site, so that you can manage future updates yourself.
Ta daaaa!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
We will agree on a start date as well as an end date during our first chat.
If you have an important deadline for the website, this should be discussed during our first meeting to ensure I am aware of this and able to meet that deadline.
Once I have all of your bits and bobs and know what it is you would like the site to achieve, I can then crack on with the design and build. Even though I am extremely particular (I mean really, really picky about the teeniest of details and probably spend far longer on my websites than I have charged for but I just can’t help myself!), I can usually complete this within a couple of months.
Please be online during this period to feedback on work in progress. I really want you to be happy with the result!
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
As I’m sure you can imagine, prices are on a sliding scale dependent on what you want the site to do.
My prices begin at 1,500€ (£1,300/$1,700) for arts organisations and small businesses.
My prices begin at 1,200€ (£1,000/$1,400) for *artists and designers.
*I choose to give a whopping great discount to artists, designers and other clients with great images as the main focus of their website, predominantly because these are my favourite types of website to work on, but also because they do tend to be much quicker and simpler to construct.
Payments should be made in two instalments, the first before we start working on the site and the second after launch.
These prices include all that I have mentioned above, from setting up hosting through to providing training videos and help sheets.
These prices do not include the cost of hosting your website as this isn’t something that I do (though I can recommend a good host). This will cost you around 60€ a year ongoing (you can pay most hosts monthly).
These prices do include your theme, if you are happy with the one I recommend. Themes can cost about 40€ for a decent one, but I do have an account with one company, so if you’re happy with the theme I recommend then I don’t mind absorbing this into my fee.
Additional add-ons may increase the price. These include things like logo design, mailing list plugin with stylised mailing list template, eCommerce, setting up branded sociables (Facebook, Twitter etc.), event calendar plugin… the list goes on. If your site needs some additional functions we can discuss these and I can let you know the additional cost before I write up an agreement.
WHAT ABOUT SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO)?
I am a web designer, not an SEO specialist, but here’s my answer…
THIS SOUNDS IDEAL…
WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?
If I sound like the web designer you are looking for, then let’s start by chatting through your aspirations for your website.
Please send me a message using the form on my contact page and we can take it from there.
I look forward to hearing from you!
TESTIMONIALS
Working with Julia on creating my website has been an absolute joy and a hugely positive collaborative experience. From day one Julia imposed a clear working schedule meaning there was never any confusion as to what she would do and what was needed from me. Her model of working on the project one day a week was perfect as it enabled me to live with suggestions and developments in between times. It also meant I never had to make quick decisions. This pace allowed for the natural evolution of the design and Julia’s artistic sensibilities have been central in helping me understand how I wanted the site to look and feel. Ignorant of the technical complexities that make websites function, I felt very comfortable asking even the most basic questions.
As well as providing training packages to help me learn to add/remove content, Julia reassuringly offers ongoing support and technical maintenance. And all of the above for an incredibly reasonable cost.
Thank you Julia!
I am so happy with my new website. It’s just what I wanted and more.
Your experience, expertise and artistic eye was such a help! Even though you are based in Scotland and I in Canada, I was amazed at how convenient and simple it was to work on this project together even though we are time zones apart. Brilliant job – THANK YOU!
Julia was very good at asking the right questions, listening to what I asked for and making excellent suggestions. She checked things out with me at every stage, responded quickly to my queries and met every deadline. I am very happy with my new website and cannot praise her highly enough.
Working with Julia was a total delight. It was like dancing with a really good partner who knows when to lead, when to follow. Julia’s sense of color, typography, composition, balance, and organization, coupled with her understanding of the practical considerations of website design—what works best and most flexibly on the widest array of devices and platforms—make her an ideal designer especially for someone working in an aesthetic or artistic field. Though a designer myself, and though I might have found the wherewithal to design my own website, I know too well the value of having a fresh set of eyes and ideas applied to one’s work. Even had I possessed all of Julia’s technical know-how (I possess none of it), I can safely say that I would never have achieved anything like what she has done for me. At every instance where I had input, she improved upon it; nor was she shy about telling me when something wouldn’t work. Put simply, Julia is more than a skilled web designer; she is something far rarer: she is a gifted artist.
… [Julia] came across as being very clear headed, practical and professional – and good fun too… Julia from a magic far-away place managed to nurture my techno spirit into action…it was at times for me quite challenging… Slowly but surely through email, with clear direction, realistic deadlines and an abundance of patience Julia has designed and delivered a new lovely spanking clean and dandy website… Read the full testimonial
Working with Julia was a very positive experience. She immediately understood the look and feel of what I was hoping to achieve and the final product was just what I had been hoping for – in fact better. We worked via Skype – a first for me – and it was a good and totally painless process which made me really focus. I am very happy with what Julia has done for me and highly recommend her thoughtful and professional approach.
Throughout, Julia was marvellous to deal with and everything went very smoothly. I am extremely happy with the final result and have no hesitation at all in recommending Julia to anyone considering a website. Read the full testimonial