Joyce W. Cairns PPRSA DEd(hc) HRHA HRWA HRBA RSW MA(RCA) HRA(2018 -2022) was born and brought up in Edinburgh. She studied painting at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen from 1966 -71 and The Royal College of Art, London 1971 -74. She was awarded a Fellowship at Gloucester College of Art and Design, Cheltenham 1974-75 returning to London where she did the Art Teacher’s Certificate Course at Goldsmiths College, University of London 1975-76.
In 1976 she returned to Aberdeen where she taught Drawing and Painting at Grays School of Art until 2004 when she took early retirement to complete the vast body of work which culminated in ‘War Tourist’. It was exhibited for 3 months in 2006 at Aberdeen Art Gallery, attracting nearly 30,000 visitors. ‘War Tourist’ was partly based on her father’s war backed up by extensive research following in his footsteps through Europe and Tunisia.
Her work is mainly autobiographical based on past memories intertwined with present experiences, woven around the backcloth of the once fishing village of Footdee at the mouth of Aberdeen harbour where she lived for 35 years. She now splits her time between Footdee and Broughty Ferry in Dundee where she has relocated her studios to a house and large garden overlooking the river Tay, which adds a further dimension to her work.
Joyce Cairns has been exhibiting since 1969 and her work is held in numerous private and public collections, both here and abroad.
On the 28th November 2018 Joyce was elected first woman President of the Royal Scottish Academy in 193 years finishing her term of office in November 2022.
joycecairns.co.uk
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