Born in 1954, Joan Gillespie studied at Dundee College of Art from 1972 - 1975 under Alberto Morrocco, and then at Edinburgh College of Art from 1975 - 1976 under Sir Robert Philipson. She worked as a graphics and Exhibition Designer with the Royal Museums of Scotland and became a full-time artist in 1986. She now lives and works in Broughty Ferry.
Joan explain, "since I was very young I have always loved looking at colourful things. I remember clearly the colours and patterns on my mum's dresses and also brightly coloured interiors filled with fabrics.
I suppose I am, at heart, a traditionalist. I like to paint whatever subject matter takes my fancy, be it still life, figures or landscapes. Like the Fauves and Expressionists of the early 20th Century, I am interested in emphasising areas of colour, simplifying the shapes. For me, it is important to have dynamism in my work not only using complimentary colours but emphasising their intensity using bold outlines and tonal extremes".
Matthew Jarron, Curator of the University of Dundee Musem Collections states that her,"simple, subtle and serene figurative studies are a visual delight...bold, thick lines give clarity to body shape, limbs, and flowing hair with a vivid sense of movement and life. Gillespie is a most refreshingly imaginative artist who has clearly folllowed her own private, painterly journey, enriched by Fauvism philosophy".