Born in Edinburgh, Cairns studied painting at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen (1966-71), and at the Royal College of Art, London (1971-74). Following a fellowship at Gloucester College of Art and Design she studied at Goldsmiths College, University of London. In 1976 she returned to Aberdeen to teach Drawing and Painting at Gray’s School of Art until 2004 when she left to complete a substantial body of work culminating in the exhibition War Tourist at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Born in Edinburgh, Cairns studied painting at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen (1966-71), and at the Royal College of Art, London (1971-74). Following a fellowship at Gloucester College of Art and Design she studied at Goldsmiths College, University of London. In 1976 she returned to Aberdeen to teach Drawing and Painting at Gray’s School of Art until 2004 when she left to complete a substantial body of work culminating in the exhibition War Tourist at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Cairns was elected President of the Royal Scottish Academy in 2018 and is the first woman to hold the position in the history of the academy.

Events participated in:

Against All Odds: Scottish Women Can Paint: Join Edi Stark as she unravels the journey of seven Scottish women artists through the 20th and 21st centuries with Joyce Cairns, President of RSA, art historian, Alice Strang, and curator Andrew Brown. Callum Stark introduces. (2021)