Juliette Derel was born in Gisors, Normandy. She entered the School of Fine Arts in Tours in 1937 where she learned painting, drawing, Art History and ceramics. She completed her training as a ceramist in a craft factory in 1939.She already exhibited her work at the Salon de l’imagerie in Paris in 1942. In 1949, she decided to move to Vallauris and joined the Grand-Chêne workshop, until 1952. In 1953 she married the ceramicist Jean Rivier, both restored a house in Vallauris and built their own wood oven, which they shared until their separation in 1961.She exhibited in France on numerous occasions, notably at the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris in 1969 (an openwork wall panel), and abroad, in Montreal (1959) Caracas (1960), Prague (silver medal in 1962).