mixed media on paper, signed mounted, framed and under glass

image size 21cm x 14cm, overall size 44cm x 37cm

Note: In 2018 Joyce W Cairns was elected the first woman President of The Royal Scottish Academy in its 192 year history. Given the extraordinary talent of many Scottish women artists both past and present, this honour reflects the high esteem of the Royal Academicians who elected her and her status as one of the most important and respected artists of her time. Note 2: Joyce W Cairns 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 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. 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 has lived for the past 33 years. ‘War Tourist’ was based on her Father’s war backed up by extensive research following in his footsteps through Europe and Tunisia. She now paints in Dundee working in a house and garden overlooking the Tay which will add a further dimension to her work but still retains a residence in Footdee. Cairns has won many awards and is featured in many publications and in the wider media. Cairns’ work has been exhibited in serious group exhibitions since 1970, as well as having numerous celebrated solo exhibitions in Scotland, London and Canada. Her work is held in numerous public collections including Aberdeen Art Gallery, The Scottish Arts Council, BBC Television, Edinburgh City Arts Centre, Fife Regional Council, Fleming’s Bank, Glasgow City Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, Grampian Television, Graves Art Gallery & Museum, Sheffield, Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Lanarkshire County Council, Manchester City Art Gallery, McMaster Museum, Hamilton, Ontario, Mobil, Perth City Art Gallery & Museum, Shell UK, Tidaholm Government Office, Sweden, The Contemporary Arts Society, The Royal Scottish Academy, University of Aberdeen, University of Strathclyde, Unilever, Aberdeen Asset Management, The National Museums of Scotland, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Asset Management,Asia, Singapore, The British Museum, The Victor Murphy Trust, Pier Arts Centre, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, The Maritime Museum, Irvin, New Hall Art Collection, Cambridge, The National Galleries of Scotland. Further biographical information at: www.joycecairns.co.uk