Joy became interested in wildlife during a holiday to the Canadian  Rockies with her husband in 1996.  The breathtaking scenery and variety of wildlife encountered inspired her desire to paint what she had seen. 

THE ARTIST

Having tried various mediums she acquired an unwanted box of chalk pastels from a friend, and took up the challenge of this medium when she noticed an advert for a Wildlife Art competition in a a magazine in 2000.  

The subject of her painting was a beautiful Sumatran Tiger called Musi whom she had recently photographed.  She was surprised to receive a Highly Commended Certificate for her work , but more importantly it gave her the encouragement and confidence to continue painting wildlife. 

Her passion for the wild and concern for conservation grew and in 2001 Joy became a member of the Wildlife Art Society International,  in order to become more actively involved and support fundraising events.  Through the Society Joy has successfully exhibited and sold original art and photographic work at annual events. 

More recently in 2006 and 2008 she was awarded a Gold Citation for her photographic work of birds in flight from the Wildlife Art Society International at the Annual Exhibitions. Both Joy and Neil have for many years participated in Snow Leopard sponsorship by supporting the species support scheme.

                                      Joy feels her work is greatly inspired by meeting                                             her subjects face to face, something she could not                                         achieve by working solely in a studio environment. 

She also finds it rewarding to use her own                                             reference material to compose a painting and                                             experience first hand the environment these

creatures live in both home and overseas.

Please see Gallery for more artwork and images

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Joy’s interest in photography began over 20 years ago but it was her desire to take better pictures which lead her to embark on a City and Guilds Qualification in 2001/2002.  Her objective was to learn how to use the camera more effectively and experience first hand traditional black and white developing/printing as well as the latest digital technology.  Having successfully completed the course Joy now takes every opportunity to photograph different subjects, and feels that something can be learnt from every assignment.  She continually seeks to improve the standard of her work whether it be digital or film.  Her wildlife images have been published several times in support of conservation.