Joyce Cairns

Artist Biography

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.

Selected Exhibitions

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

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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.