Joyce W. Cairns facts for kids

Footdee Gospel Hall Studio Garden

Joyce W. Cairns is a talented Scottish artist. She is known for her paintings and printmaking. She lives in Broughty Ferry, Scotland. In 2018, she became the president of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA). This is a very important art organization in Scotland.

About Joyce W. Cairns

Joyce W. Cairns was born in Edinburgh in 1947. She grew up in North East Scotland. Her father was a school teacher.

Her Art Education

In 1966, Joyce started studying art. She went to Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen until 1970. After that, she earned a Master of Art degree. She studied at the Royal College of Art in London from 1971 to 1974.

She also completed a special program. This was at Gloucestershire College of Art and Design in Cheltenham. Later, she studied more at Goldsmiths' College.

Returning to Aberdeen

In 1976, Joyce returned to Aberdeen. She began teaching at Gray’s School of Art. She moved to a small fishing village called Footdee. It is right by the harbor in Aberdeen.

Her house in Footdee faced a square. Large boats often passed by her home. These boats sometimes appeared in her paintings.

Leadership in Art

In 1985, Joyce Cairns became an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy. She became a full member in 1998. In 2018, she was elected president of the RSA. She was the first woman to hold this important position.

From 1985 to 1988, she was also the first female president of the Aberdeen Artist’s Society. Joyce retired from teaching in 2004. She wanted to focus completely on her painting. She now lives in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee.

Joyce Cairns' Art Style

Joyce Cairns is known as a 'figurative painter'. This means her art shows real people or objects. Her paintings are very expressive and powerful. They often explore her own life and feelings.

Themes in Her Work

In the 1970s, Joyce was inspired by mythology. But later, her art focused on family, war, and memories. These themes became very important in her work.

In 2006, the Aberdeen Art Gallery held a big exhibition. It was called War Tourist. This show explored the terrible parts of war. It connected to her own family's history. She also showed what she saw as a 'war tourist'.

Joyce visited Tunisia, where her father fought in a war. She also traveled to Bosnia and concentration camps in Eastern Europe. Her travels and research led to 26 large paintings. These were shown at the Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Painting Techniques

Joyce Cairns' painting style is like Expressionism. This art style uses strong colors and shapes. It shows feelings rather than just reality. She uses iconography, which means using symbols. These symbols help tell a story in her art.

She often works on very large paintings. Her favorite materials are oil paints on a board. She uses a grid to plan her compositions. This helps her arrange everything in her paintings.

Where to See Her Art

Joyce Cairns' artwork is in many public collections. These include Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University. Her art is also at Strathclyde University and other places.

She shows her work in several galleries. These include the Compass Gallery and Tatha Gallery in Newport-on-Tay. You can also see her art at Kilmorack Gallery.

Her work has been featured in many publications. These include the War Tourist book. She was also interviewed in Studio International Contemporary Arts Magazine.