Joan Oxland facts for kids

Joan Oxland (1920–2009) was a talented Welsh artist and a dedicated teacher. She was known for her beautiful landscape paintings and for helping many students learn about art.

Her Life and Art

Early Life and Education

Joan Oxland was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1920. She grew up there and attended Cardiff High School for Girls. After high school, Joan decided to study art.

She went to the Cardiff School of Art and then the Wimbledon School of Art. Later, she trained at the Institute of Education, which was part of the University of London at the time. This education helped her become a skilled artist and a good teacher.

Teaching Career

After finishing her studies, Joan began her career as a teacher. She taught in both York and Cardiff for several years. In 1962 and 1963, she took a break from teaching to study art in Paris, France. She attended the Academie Julian, a famous art school there.

When she returned to Wales, Joan continued her teaching career. She became the head of a department at Cardiff High School for Girls. Later, she led the design department at Llandaff College of Education until 1972. She then taught at Llanederyrn High School in Cardiff. From 1973 onwards, she worked as an artist and also taught art for the Workers Educational Association.

Her Art and Exhibitions

Even while teaching, Joan Oxland always found time to paint. She often created stunning landscapes, especially of the French countryside. She regularly showed her paintings at important art events.

During the 1950s, her work was often displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. She was also an active member of two art groups in South Wales: the South Wales Group and the South Wales Artists Society. She sometimes held leadership roles in these groups.

Joan's art was also featured in the annual Pictures for Welsh Schools exhibition. This show took place at the National Museum Cardiff between 1951 and 1960. She also exhibited her work at the Welsh National Eisteddfod at least twice.

Throughout her career, Joan Oxland held twelve solo exhibitions. These included shows at Newport Cathedral in 1964 and at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff in 1974. Today, you can find examples of her work in collections at the Welsh Arts Council, the National Museum of Wales, and art galleries in Newport and Neath.