Painter and teacher, born in Blandford Forum, Dorset. She studied at Harrow School of Art with Ken Howard and Charles Bartlett, then at Royal College of Art under Ruskin Spear and Carel Weight. The Phelps family were boat-builders and river men on the Thames, and Julia adopted the river as her subject. She showed at SWA, in the Open show at RWS, won prizes at the Spirit of London exhibitions put on by the Greater London Council and carried out a number of commissions, notably for the Dyers’ Company and Fishmongers’ Company. Died in London.