Originally trained as a visual artist, Jillian graduated from the University of Aberdeen in July 2012 with a 1st Class honours degree in Music. While in Aberdeen, Jillian was the recipient of several awards including the Chris Cadwur James Composition Prize in June 2012, and she was joint-winner of the University’s 2011 Concerto Competition. 

Upon graduation from Aberdeen, Jillian moved to London to commence post graduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance as a Trinity College of Music and Helen Roll scholar, under the tutelage of Joan Rodgers and Linda Hirst. Specialising in contemporary repertoire and Nordic song, she completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance in 2013, and a Master of Fine Art in Creative Performance Practice in July 2014, attaining distinctions in both courses. Jillian continues to study privately with Joan Rodgers.

Recent highlights include representing Trinity Laban in the 2015 ELIA NOW Festival, Amsterdam, premiering the soprano solo in Paul Mealor's Symphony No.1 Passiontide, with James Jordan and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, an artists' residency at Fljótstunga, Iceland, the creation of the title role in the opera The Maiden Stone by Joe Stollery and Catriona Yule, performing with London Transport Choir as their featured soloist at St-Martin-in-the-Fields and Stockhausen’s Stimmung at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, with Trinity Laban Soloists and Gregory Rose.

Forthcoming projects include a solo exhibition at the Barbican Library, London, a performance of Morten Lauridsen’s Cuatro Canciones with Spectrum Ensemble in the presence of the composer and artists’ residencies on the Åland Islands, Finland, and as part of JAM on the Marsh Festival 2017.