Jilly Bernard began her creative trajectory in London in 1986, mastering specialist wall painting. By 1995, she had expanded her expertise into oil and water gilding. Her projects included Kensington Palace, and Platform 12 at Paddington Station in 2000. A pivotal moment occurred in 1999 when she was accepted into the prestigious Il Laboratorio Per Affresco in Figline de Prato, Italy.
Whilst studying fresco under the renowned Maestro Leonetto Tintori, she discovered the rare and demanding technique of scagliola: the very medium that would define her career as a fine artist. Bernard subsequently further refined her skills within the studios of leading contemporary scagliolists in Florence and Rome, absorbing a legacy of expertise before establishing her own practice.
In 2022 she inherited the studio (and dog!) of her former friend and teacher Cinzia Lunghetti, one of the champions of 18th century scagliola technique. Jilly spends most of her time at her home and studio, located just south of Florence, with her husband James and three dogs.
Bernard's scagliola works have been widely exhibited across the UK and Italy, including solo exhibitions in London (2010) and Edinburgh (2013). Her works have featured in shared exhibitions in Hertfordshire (2009, 2012), London (2012, 2018), and Florence (2015).
Gun Room: Blenheim Palace
Main Foyer, Princess Royal Stand: Cheltenham Racecourse
Aberdeen Group: Edinburgh
