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Joyce W. Cairns RSA RSW MA(RCA) 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 is now moving to Dundee to a house and garden overlooking the Tay which will add 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.
AWARDS
2005 The Carnegie Trust for the Universities ,Grant for colour reproduction.
2005 The Maude Gemmell Hutchison Prize,RSA
2002 2nd Prize, Shell Expro, Aberdeen Artists Society
1997 Gillies Travel Bursary (Royal Scottish Academy) for trip to Poland
1995 Research Award (Robert Gordon University) One Year’s Sabbatical
1995 Research Award (RGU) Travel
1994 Premier Award, Shell Expro, AAS
1993 The May Marshall Brown Award, Royal Scottish Society for Painters in watercolour.
1993 W & J Burness Award, RSA
1989 1st Prize, Morrison Portrait Competition, RSA
1985 Scottish Arts Council Bursary
1982 2nd Prize, Shell Expro, AAS
1978 Latimer Award, RSA
1974 E Q Henriques Gift, Royal College of Art
1973 First Prize, Shulton’s Competition, RCA
1972 English Speaking Union Scholarship to USA
1972 Anstruther Award, RCA
1971 Carnegie Travelling Scholarship, RSA
1st Prize, Arbroath Art Competition
1970 Robert Brough Scholarship, Grays School of Art
1970 RSA Student Prize
1969 Hospitalfield Prize
ONE MAN EXHIBITIONS
2011 Joyce Cairns Stand ,Aberdeen Art Fair
2008 Melange, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen
2006 War Tourist Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen
2005 Monoprints Friends Room, The Royal Scottish Academy
2004 Postcards from Fittie, Rendezvous Gallery,Aberdeen
2003 Monoprints, Peacock Visual Arts, Aberdeen
2003 Sea Sirens, The Weem Gallery, Pittenweem Arts Festival
1998 Works on Paper, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen
1995 Footdee Ikons, Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
1992 To The Lighthouse, Andrew Lamont Gallery, London
1993 The Guiding Light: Elektra Fine Art, Toronto, Canada
1991-92 Ship to Shore: Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh
& tour Peacock Printmakers, Aberdeen
Odette Gilbert Gallery, London
Kirkcaldy Art Gallery and Museum
An Lanntair, Stornaway
Inverness, Wick, Skye & Thurso
1986 New Paintings, 369 Gallery, Edinburgh
& tour The Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
Artspace, Aberdeen
Perth Museum & Art Gallery (Perth Arts Festival)
1984 Recent Paintings, Artspace Galleries, Aberdeen
1982 Senior Common Room, Aberdeen University
1981 Paintings & Watercolours, English Speaking Union, Edinburgh
1981 Prints & Watercolours, Peacock Printmakers, Aberdeen
1980 Recent Paintings, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Aberdeen Art Gallery, BBC Television, Edinburgh City Arts Centre, Fife Regional Council, Fleming’s Bank, Glasgow City Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, The Scottish Arts Council, Grampian Television, Graves Art Gallery & Museum, Sheffield, Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Aberdeen College, 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 Scottish Army Museum (Edinburgh Castle), The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia, Singapore, The British Museum, The Victor Murphy MemorialTrust.
