Born: 1927.  
Married: 1949 to Wilfred Proctor.
Of her education she uses the word "unexceptional." 

Joan's occupations prior to retirement : Private secretary; specialist window dresser; sales clerk. 

Of these, she found the secretarial work most enjoyable and varied. After retirement, for a time, the couple ran a very successful Bed & Breakfast business in their home, a rambling old farmhouse to the south of the town.

Current hobbies: gardening, pottery, watercolour painting, pastel drawing. These are subject to change, as she is a firm believer in taking up new challenges. With Wilf, she has travelled extensively, mainly in North America never without her sketch book and a portable watercolour outfit.

Previous interests include fell-walking, embroidery, collage, upholstery, yoga, dress-making. 

No part of Joan's education or working life offered any indication that she would find an enthusiasm for creating pictures. She is largely self taught, though her mother also took to painting quite late in life and one wonders if there is perhaps an "inherited tendency". Joan, like her mother, has a keen eye for colour accuracy. She finds it helpful to discuss her work with other artist members of the local community. She is deprecating about her work and finds it hard to believe any good opinions expressed by her peers.

Joan's main interest is in painting flowers, singly or in groups, though more recently there have been several ventures into landscape. Without exception, her pictures are representational - she has neither the feeling for, nor the interest in, the abstract. Flower painting, of course, reflects her other main passion: gardening.

Joan's paintings will be displayed at several of the exhibitions planned at the Harbour Cottage Gallery for 2003.