Julian studied Classics at Magdalene College, Cambridge University, where he also gained a Blue for cross country and an MPhil in Linguistics (1985).
After supervising in the Classics Faculty at Cambridge (1985–87), he taught Classics at Oundle School (1987–1991) and, since then, has been Head of Classics at Marlborough, where he tutors in Turner House and is also in charge of cross country.
Julian is an accomplished artist. He held an exhibition at the Mount House Gallery in spring 2021 of watercolours of the Greek island of Hydra and of Marlborough.