Julie Sanger Gowers was born in Middlesex, England but has lived and worked in Essex for most of her adult life. She studied at Harrow School of Art and Portsmouth College of Art and Design, specialising in Fine Art and Ceramics. She later studied History of Art at Warwick University. She gained an Art Teachers' Certificate from Hornsey Teachers' Training Department and has taught in secondary schools and adult education colleges. She was head of Art and Design before retiring from secondary education in 2007.

Julie has always been enthusiastic about new processes, materials and technologies and her interest in digital imaging combines well with her mixed media approach to more traditional practices. She currently teaches courses in PhotoShop, Photography and Mixed Media at an Adult Community Learning College in Essex . She also delivers courses to local societies, other organisations and private individuals. She is the publicity officer for the Brentwood Art Society and represents the visual arts on the committee of the Brentwood Arts Council.

Writing has always been an important activity for Julie and she is a member of the Brentwood Writers' Circle. Hens Theatre Company has commissioned her to write several plays and workshops dealing with children's health and social issues and these are regularly performed in schools and at other venues. Julie also writes fiction, edits and produces the annual newsletter for the Brentwood Art Society and writes illustrated instructions for PhotoShop, and Art. and Design courses.

Julie's other interest is genealogy, which she feels brings together all those activities which she finds engaging, including, travel, research, history, photography, illustration, compiling data and meeting people. Her most recent passion, however, is mortorhoming!