By permission of the artist, The Cyber Art Show is pleased to feature the first of two 12-piece exhibitions of works by Australian landscape painter Joan Hancock (born 1945 in Peterborough, South Australia).

Joan remembers as a young child travelling around and living in the bush with her family as her father sought sheep shearing on stations. Work was hard to find after the war years so money was in short supply. Most of Joan’s drawings were done on paper bags or butchers paper in those days. Even drawing with sticks on the clay pans near shearing sheds.

After marriage and while raising her children, she was very happy to have the opportunity to be guided by the late Ken Field- a beautiful landscape artist who lived 60km away. Joan would travel as often as she could to spend time with Ken and his wife and on occasions they would form a group and go out into the hills and dry creek beds to paint. She has received encouragement from her wonderful family and friends and found that living in the magical Flinders Ranges is an inspiration in itself. Joan has also found inspiration by the work of Hans Heysen and the Heidelberg School of Artists, though she has a love for all art.

Apart from her association with Ken Field and attendance at a few workshops in the early years, Joan is mainly self-taught. Working only in oils for many years she has lately embraced other mediums, enjoying immensely the different effects.

Joan is a Life Member of The Curdnatta Art Group, her work is represented there at the Platform Gallery Port Augusta. She’s also an inaugural invited exhibitor to the “Artist of The Ranges” exhibition held in Blinman in the Flinders Ranges annually with good sales.

Joan has received many highly-commended and merit awards over the years in various exhibitions in the region, including 1st Place three times at the Peterborough Art Prize Special Theme, 2013-2014-2015, 1st place Peterborough Art Show Open Section and 2nd place, Peterborough Art Prize in 2008.