HELPING ART
APPLICANTS
GET INTO THEIR
TOP UNIVERSITY.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Emma McGuire 
 
7 July 2026
 
 
  
When we first contacted Julie we were feeling overwhelmed. My daughter had decided that it was her dream to study set and costume design. We knew she had the drive and the talent but with there only being a handful of places that offer this course, and with limited spaces, we felt completely out of our depth as parents knowing how best to support her. She was not keen on the idea of doing a foundation year and was determined she wanted to go to Uni next year. From the first meeting, Julie put us at ease, she is warm, enthusiastic and nurturing which is exactly what our daughter needed to build her confidence.  It was amazing to see her go from being anxious and overwhelmed to being proud and confident in the designs she was producing. They worked together to produce a portfolio which helped secure her a place at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts to study for a BA in Theatre and Performance Design, a dream come true and she is so excited to be heading there in September. I cannot recommend Julie highly enough - we would have been lost without her!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Katharine Charsley 
 
26 April 2026
 
 
  
I can't recommend Julie highly enough. We found her rather last minute, and she gave fantastic advice on portfolios. Julie is also a very lovely person - so kind and helpful, expert but approachable. And son got all 5 offers!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Deirdre Shaw 
 
14 April 2026
 
 
  
I cannot recommend this portfolio course enough. With tailored support my young person went from zero art to conditional offer at their preferred art school. They were having a challenging time and the course was supportive, was understanding of their pace while encouraging action. Julie was nothing but honest and supportive. Thank you so much!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 AJ Titley 
 
28 December 2025
 
 
  
This review is long overdue, I have to share that this is one of the best things I have ever done for myself! Julie was fantastic in supporting me with process and portfolio development. I learnt so much from her. It turly helped me with refining my creative interests, strengthening my skills, improving my processes. Her knowledge and teaching ability is second to none, and isn't something that you unfortunately don't get during education. It's luck if you do! Working with Julie was a worthwhile investment which I still use to this day! It's now been 2 years since I completed the course with Julie. I got into all of my university choices, and I'm now in my second year at Central Saint Martins and loving every second of it. Thank you so much Julie! You are so skilled, talented, and an absolute joy to have worked with! I can't thank you enough. 💛
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Yael Hickmore 
 
20 June 2025
 
 
  
Having not been to Uni myself, and having a daughter determined to get into Edinburgh College of Art I knew we needed a bit of help to maximise her chances. Julie was an absolute god-send - Friendly, outgoing, and fabulous at gently prodding an easily distracted teen, she set a series of projects going that absolutely transformed J's work, and they built a portfolio that got her an unconditional offer for Fine Art at ECA. Thank you so much Julie, and if anyone is hovering over the 'contact me' button - just do it!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Julieta Ledezma 
 
15 May 2025
 
 
  
My daughter had the depth of thought and talent to get to a University in Europe, what she lacked was the methodology on how to build her portfolio. Thanks to Julie, who was patient, proactive and knowledgeable, my daughter got a spot on the University of her dreams. We were lucky to find Portfolio Oomph and to be able to work with Julie.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Keren Brynes MacLean 
 
28 April 2025
 
 
  
My daughter is now heading towards the end of 2nd year reading Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art. She has been blossoming since working with Julie to create her portfolio a couple of years ago. Not only did she create a portfolio that gained her entry to ECA, I would say that Julie facilitated the true unlocking of Molly's creative potential. Portfolio Oomph illuminated a path forward and provided a toolkit that enabled a creative process to evolve.  To express.  To think.  To explore.  And not be frightened of not being perfect on paper. The course has been a positive catalyst and worth the financial investment to see our daughter flourish and thrive in a creative degree. I would highly recommend Portfolio Oomph to anyone looking to submit a stand out portfolio that shows who they are and not just what they can do.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jane Crewe 
 
30 August 2024
 
 
  
My daughter left school with glittering Art results and was at College doing a Foundation Diploma. We visited all the Universities, asked all the questions, applying to Art School should be easy shouldn't it? Oh how little we knew! By Christmas, with no portfolio and very little information about applications we were advised to contact Julie. on a very tight schedule, Julie listened to what my daughter wanted, gave us excellent advice and put together a programme that would quickly lead to a portfolio worthy of offers. My daughter was offered a place at her first choice institution. I can guarantee that would not have happened without Julie guiding us through the process. Julie is an investment in your future.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Carole Racionzer 
 
8 May 2024
 
 
  
We were looking for support for my child who had finished school a few years ago, so wouldn't benefit from portfolio support via school and Julie's tutoring was exactly what was needed. Julie was patient, knowledgable and methodical in her approach. She was easy to communicate with, particularly when there was a need to work together with us to ensure work was on track.  Going through the process of creating the portfolio helped to solidify that my young person was on the right path for their career.  They have now accepted a place to study Costume at her preferred University. Thanks so much to Julie for supporting them to make that happen. We are absolutely delighted!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 David Russell-Douglas 
 
10 July 2023
 
 
  
I cannot express enough gratitude for the remarkable services provided by Julie from Portfolio Oomph. From the outset, Julie demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the application process and her personalised approach tailored specifically to my daughter's aspirations and strengths made all the difference. What truly sets Julie apart is her genuine care and support. Throughout the entire process, she was approachable, responsive, and always willing to provide timely advice and reassurance. Her unwavering belief in my daughter's abilities instilled confidence and kept her motivated even during the most challenging moments. Julie's nurturing and encouraging demeanour created a nurturing environment that allowed my daughter's creativity to flourish. The transformation that Julie facilitated in my daughter's portfolio, skills, and overall approach to the application process has been truly remarkable. My daughter heads off to study her dream course in September and I wholeheartedly recommend Julie from Portfolio Oomph to any aspiring student seeking guidance and support in their pursuit of a creative career.