:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/JuliaBell003-copy-e1774920218869-1.jpg "Julia Bell")
Founder and Principal Partner of Parapluie, Julia Bell has 30 years’ experience within the international art world as an art advisor, appraiser, curator, consultant and art market commentator. She has extensive knowledge of modern, post-war and contemporary art markets from emerging to blue-chip artists and advises both private and corporate clients located in the UK and internationally. Listed since 2022 as a Spear’s Top Recommended Art Advisor. Featured in 2022/2023/ 2024 Private Client Global Elite Directory, as one of 150 specialists chosen by peers for their expertise within the private wealth industry.
Julia is high touch in approach, and client focused. Skilled in Art Market knowledge, her services include: Valuation and Appraisal; Private Sales transactions; Corporate Collecting; Collections Management and strategic consultancy to Artist Estates and Foundations. Julia is an USPAP qualified Appraiser and an Accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers. She is also a member of the Institute of Art and Law.
Prior to founding Parapluie in 2017, Julia had a twenty year career with public institutions in the UK building and managing modern and contemporary fine and decorative art collections of both regional and national importance and developing national and international gallery partnerships. She also worked as an independent curator, public art commissioner and strategic advisor to museums and galleries.
Get to Know Me
What do you do in the art world?
As an Art Advisor and Appraiser, I offer a range of services that help clients navigate the art market confidently. Whether that be advising them on buying or selling art, overseeing the entire transaction, to managing their collection, or providing appraisals for insurance, fiduciary or resale purposes. I pride myself on being impartial and independent working only for the client and protecting their interests. When I originally founded the company, I chose Parapluie (French for umbrella) as a name, because I wanted to offer a range of services under one umbrella so to speak. Aside from it being a beautiful word, it felt protective. The art world can be very opaque, so I work in a very transparent way, and hope that by doing so, more and more people will have the confidence to engage with the market and live with and love art. Not only is it good for the soul, It's good for galleries, and more importantly its good for artists who will always need patrons and collectors.
What are the most interesting aspects of your work?
I never stop learning. It could be a new artist's practice, an overlooked artist I am now revisiting, an artist's market that I have not appraised before, or a logistical problem I have never encountered before that I need to resolve. Its one of the few professions where your age works to your advantage, I can only get better at my job, my experience can only continue to gain value. I hope I am still doing this in another thirty years time! I love working closely with clients, watching those starting out on their collection journey gain confidence and see how all of them both private and corporate, incorporate art into their lives.
What are the most challenging aspects of your work?
Time zones! I can start the day very very early here in the UK talking to a client in Asia and finish it very late corresponding with another client in the US, so at times, week days in particular are full on and its hard to plan a life outside of work. I am always available to clients and they often want to talk after their busy day at work in the evening or at a weekend or before they start work, but I am totally up for that. I love being in close contact with clients, and I like to be able to answer questions on the spot. It does mean I have to be across it all, but I find the change of pace between, sourcing and selling art, overseeing logistics, shipping, finance, appraisals and collection management welcome, each has their rhythm across the year and I bring in a trusted team of professionals as and when I need them for additional support.