Joyce’s interest in botanical art was generated by her late grandmother, herself a successful amateur botanical artist.  Encouraged by her husband, when time permitted, Joyce undertook general art and drawing classes in central London in the early 1980s.  At the same time, starting with tips from her grandmother, Joyce taught herself to observe, draw and paint flora.

It was not until she retired from a busy legal practice that Joyce had time to study botanical art in greater depth.  Joyce attended several courses at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art at the Chelsea Physic Garden and at Highgrove in 2018 and 2019.  Closer to her home in Lymington, Joyce attended classes run by Sally Pond in Sarum College, Salisbury, herself an RHS medalist.  During Covid lockdowns she continued to progress her painting with the help of emails and webinars with Sally Pond and distance learning courses run by Christina Hart-Davies.

With the ending of the Covid closures Joyce continues to attend the workshops in Salisbury and has studied at the Transylvania School of Botanical Art in Copsa Mare with Julia Trickey.

In 2022 Joyce joined a newly formed group of botanical artists creating an archive of the flora of the New Forest in conjunction with the National Park, to be used for exhibitions promoting awareness of our precious forest and heathlands.

Joyce has also exhibited successfully in exhibitions local to Lymington.

“As a child I was fascinated by my grandmother’s paintings and in awe of her ability.  I always wanted to paint as she did.  After my grandmother’s death in 1984, my grandfather gave me her paints and equipment.  I felt this an enormous privilege and was determined to make the best of this, to me, fabulous legacy.  I am also very fortunate to have my husband in the background supporting me in this very time consuming occupation, always encouraging me, making bits of equipment and (usually) being a helpful critic!”

Joyce can be contacted by email: joyce@littlewb.com