Virginia Woolf was born in London in 1882. After her father's death in 1904 Virginia and her sister, the painter Vanessa Bell, moved to Bloomsbury and became the centre of ‘The Bloomsbury Group’. This informal collective of artists and writers exerted a powerful influence over early twentieth-century British culture.

In 1912 Virginia married Leonard Woolf, a writer and social reformer. Three years later, her first novel The Voyage Out was published, followed by Night and Day (1919) and Jacob's Room (1922). Between 1925 and 1931 Virginia Woolf produced what are now regarded as her finest masterpieces, from Mrs Dalloway (1925) to The Waves (1931).

She also maintained an astonishing output of literary criticism, short fiction, journalism and biography. On 28 March 1941, a few months before the publication of her final novel, Between the Acts, Virginia Woolf committed suicide.

Julie Vivas first picture book, The Tram to Bondi Beach (written by Libby Hathorn), was Highly Commended in the 1982 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Awards.

However it is for her illustrations in the beloved Australian classic Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox, that she has become most well known.

This book was Highly Commended at the 1984 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards. In 1990 The Very Best of Friends, Julie's first picture book with Margaret Wild, won this particular award.

Julie has since been short-listed for this award several times. In 1992 she was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her significant contribution to children's literature.