Tilly Mint Silver

Julie Brockbank: The Story Behind Tilly Mint Silver

Julie Brockbank was born in Manchester, moving at the age of seven to the stunning Holehird Estate near Troutbeck, Windermere, where her father served as the estate manager.

Though she harboured a lifelong passion for the arts, Julie was guided toward a career in catering after leaving school at 16. She completed a two-year City & Guilds course and soon returned to her roots at the Holehird Estate. Having worked part-time at the mansion house—then a Leonard Cheshire Home for people with disabilities—she was appointed Catering Manageress at just 19, a role she held for three years.

In 1986, Julie married her husband, Steve, at Jesus Church in Troutbeck. The couple settled in Troutbeck Bridge, just a stone’s throw from the Holehird Estate, where they still live today. Julie eventually transitioned from catering to care work with the Leonard Cheshire Foundation. For eleven years, she dedicated herself to supporting severely disabled individuals in their homes while raising her two children, Sarah and Tom.

Julie’s life changed overnight in 1999 when she was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E./CFS). The illness left her bedridden for nearly a year, but the experience shifted her perspective on what truly matters. During her recovery, she returned to education to embark on a successful, spiritual career as a Holistic Therapist.

In 2012, an evening course at Dallam School reignited her childhood love for art. From this spark, Tilly Mint Silver was born. The name is a tribute to Julie's late father, who affectionately called her "Tilly Mint" while she was growing up.

Today, when she isn’t in her studio or practicing therapy, Julie can be found with Steve and their beloved Boxer dogs at their cottage in Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands. Her silverwork is deeply inspired by her respect for the natural world and her travels across the globe.

Looking ahead, Julie plans to devote more time to her craft studio, creating new silver pieces and further exploring her lifelong love of art.

Julies favourite quote is from Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe …. 

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.