Art was her life. That’s where she was happy
Anne Morrison, Joan’s niece
Joan Eardley’s niece, Anne Morrison, was inspired to become an artist, despite being just 10 when the painter died.
Her mother Patricia was Joan’s sister and died several years ago aged 90. Anne said: “Joan’s death hit her very hard. It was difficult to talk to mum about Joan as it upset her, losing her so young. But she said that throughout Joan’s life – as a child – she was always drawing. She was driven. Art was her life and that’s where she was happy.” Anne, a potter, ceramicist and sculptor, followed her aunt into the GSA, but admits her skill was not in painting, to the surprise of the tutors who had known her aunt. She said: “Had Joan lived longer she would definitely have become part of the art establishment but her name slipped out of the art world. As with so many other women artists, they could be dismissed or forgotten.” Eardley’s family have created a website to highlight events dedicated to her centenary year which are being orchestrated by the Scottish Women Artists Research Network comprising the University of Glasgow – including The Hunterian and Archives and Special Collections, Glasgow School of Art, Paisley Museum and Art Gallery and Glasgow Women’s Library. They plan to stage a year of exhibitions and events starting in May. Anne said: “It’s the right time to do something. Joan was cut off in her prime, she really was beginning to absolutely break through. Her work was changing to this wonderfully strong, totally unique vision of the world. “I would like as many people as possible to be aware of her work and to be able to extend the knowledge of her life and work around the world.”