BIOGRAPHY
1917
Born Joyce Nellie Ehms. Her father was a jeweller/optician with a shop in Glenhuntly. Joyce studied at Melbourne Girls High School but left school early to take care of the home, and help in her father’s business.1937 Began part time studies at the National Gallery School, became full-time in
1939.
Regularly painted with fellow students and friends including Graeme King, Ian Armstrong, Laurie Phillips and later Fred Williams
1940
1st prize in Drawing from Life category at the National Gallery School
1941
Had trained as a Voluntary Aid and was called up for service in the Second World War. Initially sent to the Heidelberg Military Hospital for training then selected as one of 200 VAD’s who sailed on the Queen Mary to the Middle East where she served with the 2/6th Australian General Hospital in Palestine
1943
Returned to Australia and staged at Rocky Creek, a military base in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland
1945
Sent with her unit to Labuan, Morotai and Borneo
1946
After the War, Joyce returned to the National Gallery School and studied under Alan Sumner who became hermentor and life-long friend. He encouraged her to study with George Bell which she did.
1946
Awarded 2nd prize in Drawing from Life category at the National Gallery School
1947
Awarded Best Picture of Full or ¾ Nude at the National Gallery School; also Best Genre Painting from Contemporary Life Awarded 3rd place in the National Gallery School Travelling Scholarship Competition
1948
Awarded Best Picture of Full or ¾ Nude at Gallery School;
Won Broken Hill Award
1949
Studied printmaking with Harold Freedman at Melbourne Technical College
Commissioned to design the cover for Meanjin
Married Dennett Meier, and had two children
Exhibited with Contemporary Artists Society
1949-1996
Regular exhibitor with the Victorian Artists Society
1967-1980
Member of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors
1986-1998
Regular exhibitor with the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia!
2013
First solo exhibition at the age of 96
