Key events throughout Joanna’s career
2001
In November 2001, the Joanna May Studio Gallery opened. It was situated in the quaint and fashionable, Old Hughenden Yard, in the historic market town of Marlborough, Wiltshire. Giving the public a chance to see work in progress, together with paintings, prints, and cards for sale of Joanna’s work. She has a particular love of British wildlife subjects including owls and birds of prey. Her specialist subject is the brown hare which is frequently seen in the Wiltshire countryside. It is through this gallery that the portrayal of this subject becomes her trademark.
2005 - Call of the Wild
Joanna’s, Call of the Wild, solo show was held at Gallery One, Barns, London. The write up on the invite said ‘Not many artists can give up an established career path and open their own gallery and make it an instant success – but that is exactly what Joanna May has done. Gallery One is delighted to be holding Joanna’s first London solo exhibition. Joanna has been approached by the BBC to talk about her work and the inspiration she has derived from Britain’s wildlife in the forthcoming series ‘Springwatch with Bill Oddie’. Hosted by Britain’s most famous bird watcher, it will be aired on BBC2 later this year. Joanna had a highly successful 10-year career as a wildlife illustrator, before returning to painting fulltime. Initially she was painting hares, owls and birds of prey and the response from the public was phenomenal, with each painting being sold as soon as they were hung in the gallery. May donated a painting for Cancer Research’s annual auction at Christies. She used this as an opportunity to do something different – the first Zebra painting was conceived. The Zebra’s caused great enthusiasm amongst the bidders and went on to achieve the highest price for a painting in the auction. While she continues to paint British wildlife, it is the African animal kingdom which is currently proving such a rich source of inspiration. In January Joanna travelled to South Africa’s Kruger National Park. ‘Witnessing the hierarchy of the animals and their movement – you learn so much’ Joanna was also featured in the ‘Who’s Who in Art’ 2004 edition. Like many other artists who paint wildlife, Joanna is passionate about animal conservation. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust was founded by Gerald Durell, the famous author and naturalist over forty years ago. Their mission is to save endangered species from extinction.’ Mike Read, ex DJ and ‘I’m a Celebrity’ will be auctioning off a Zebra painting to raise money for ‘Gerald Durell Wildlife’ and Lee Durell, Gerald Durells widow and CEO of The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust will also be attending.
2006
Joanna held a solo exhibition at the Brian Sinfield Gallery in Burford Oxfordshire. The exhibition opened a week after Joanna was on the TV programme Spring Watch talking about why her hare paintings were so popular. The Gemini Hare painting was launched as a start of new series of paintings on the Zodiac and sold before it was aired on TV but was unveiled at this exhibition. After her first African themed paintings were launched at a solo show in London the year before, Brian Sinfield wanted Joanna to paint more of this new style of work but taking the animal pattern to the edge of the canvas like her first Zebra’s. It lead to the launch of her iconic Black Leopard etc. The Black Leopard sold to an art bank called Tempest Radford who sold it on to Standard Charter Bank and the show was a great success launching and selling many more new animals painted in this unique style. The Black Leopard was spotted by Raymond Blanc from a brochure produced for this exhibition and it lead to her selling one of the early prints to Raymond and also being commissioned to paint six more originals for his famous hotel Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons deco style’.
2007
While running her gallery and other commissions, Joanna had several meetings with Raymond Blanc to discuss the work for both the Sandalwood and Lemongrass suites at Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons. Lemongrass was a blank canvas as the room had just been completed. Raymond had fallen in love with the Black Leopard when he saw the painting featured in a brochure. Although the original had sold to Standard Charter Bank he ordered a print and then commissioned Jo to do another painting and purchased additional work from the existing collection – in total, seven originals for the two rooms. Jo comments, ‘we had so much fun designing the triptych – the Lemongrass suite had been inspired from Raymond’s trip to Malaysia and he wanted me to depict the rice fields he had seen on his travels. Raymond loves the art deco period so the painting was designed in a modern art deco style’.
2008
Joanna May held her first solo exhibition at Raymond Blanc, the famous chef’s hotel, Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons. It was attended by the DJ Mike Read and the actress Pam St Clements or more commonly known as Pat Butcher from Eastenders. After producing seven original paintings and one print of the Black Leopard for two of Raymond’s bedroom suites in the hotel, Joanna produced further leopards, tigers and lions in the same format as the Black Leopard but in gold and silver leaf for the exhibition.
2009
In 2009 Joanna May held an exhibition in Lord Bath’s Orangery at Longleat, following on from the exhibition held at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Exhibition. For both solo shows Joanna used the animals of Longleat for her reference to create the new paintings. Lord Bath came to view the exhibition when it opened.
2010
Joanna was invited to paint a 6ft fiberglass Elephant for charity ‘Elephant Family’ raising money to save the endangered Asian Elephant. 250 Elephants were positioned around London.
2010
The Year of the Tiger Exhibition attended by the TV presenter Chris Packham and his girlfriend Charlotte Corney, the CEO of the Isle of Wight Zoo. The exhibition was held at the Joanna May Gallery in Marlborough in November 2010. The research for the paintings was based on the tigers at Charlotte Corney’s Zoo on the Isle of Wight. Jo was also filmed while sketching for local TV on the Isle of Wight and photographed for the press. The event raised £2,000 for tiger conservation for WWF who opened the event at Jo’s gallery. Chris Packham also spoke about his experience of tiger conservation.
July 2011
Joanna was married to David Ladd on Saturday 23rd July 2011, their wedding was covered by Wiltshire Life Magazine. Here are some of the shots taken by Wiltshire Life on their happy day.
2011 - Chris Packham at our home in Wiltshire
The Chris Packham Exhibition, October 2011. Joanna held an exhibition of her work in her beautiful chapel/school house, opened by the TV wildlife presenter Chris Packham. Chris auctioned off one of Joanna’s paintings to help raise funds for his girlfriend Charlotte Corney’s zoo on the Isle of White. Chris also presented a talk on conservation.
2012 - Biggest Solo Show to date at Savoy Hotel, London. Opened By Michaela Strachan
Joanna May’s solo show titled ‘The Iconic Animals of London Zoo’ held at The Savoy in London and celebrated David Attenborough’s sixty years in wildlife television. The show was opened by wildlife television presenter Michaela Strachan and attended by the actress Rula Lenska
October 2013
This event, in October 2013, was the launch of my series of Moon Bear paintings and auctioning prints and paintings to support the Animals Asia charity raising awareness and funds to help end bear farming for bile in China and Vietnam. The day was attended by Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson MBE with actress Rula Lenska and “Flog It” presenter Paul Martin generously donating their time to help me with this worthy cause.
2014 - Art Interior Exhibition At Home
Joanna May Art and Interior Exhibition held on Saturday 29th March 2014 in her home near to Devizes Wiltshire. Joanna was delighted to have guest speaker Paul Martin, presenter from BBC’s ‘Flog It’ at the exhibition.
Earlier this year I was delighted to host a show with Paul Martin, the presenter from BBC’s ‘Flog It’, talking about ‘incorporating modern interiors with contemporary art’. This was a connection with my work and the wire sculptures of Rachel Ducker and how they complete and complement modern interiors in, for example Steven Graver’s award winning kitchens. Unveiled at the show were two different pieces, but a new style of my work. An image is created using a word repeated over and over again building up and representing the figure in a monochrome type object. ‘Hare-kin’ the hare sold immediately. The other piece, ‘Roar’ is made up of the word Roar used over and over again to form shading. Also released at the show was a young prancing Zebra against a striking red background across two canvasses which sold; and responding to client feedback, I produced three smaller original leopards in pink, white and cerise red. The show was attended by 100 people visiting our home in Wiltshire on a sunny spring day.
March 2015 - Awareness of the Hare Exhibition
The exhibition unveiled a new collection of Hare paintings and drawings created in a modern way, including a new concept using words for shading. Her series of collectable, Traditional, Zodiac and Modern Hare prints were available, and Joanna’s new collection of Hare cards were revealed. The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust presented a talk on the conservation of the Hare. In addition, Joanna sold ceramic miniature hares from the sculpture, Pippa Hill. The exhibition was held at her home in Keevil, Wiltshire. Michelle Guard was the guest speaker from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
April 2015 - Official Opening First Gallery, Devizes
After a frantic three months in her Devizes gallery, it was officially opened with Paul Martin, presenter from BBC’s ‘Flog It’, and the Actress, Rula Lenska, cutting the ribbon at midday on Saturday 25th April 2015 along with the Mayor, Sarah Bridewell. Joanna’s paintings and cards including the latest Seasonal Hare collection were available. The beautiful wire sculptures by Rachel Ducker, ceramics and miniature hares from Pippa Hill, the ‘oh so collectible’, Loco Glassware and Amy Lancaster‘s hares made from garden implements and old farm machinery were also available. The opening was a huge success and a huge thank you to everyone that visited on the day, especially to Paul Martin, Rula Lenska and Sarah Bridewell for all their support and for making the day so much fun. Lots of unexpected sales were made, but to top it all, the original Red Leopard painting sold for ?10,000 along with hare prints, loco glassware, and Pippa Hill sculptures.
2017 The Cotswold Hare Trail
After an invitation to take part as one of the artists for the Cotswold Hare Trail, a five-foot fibreglass hare arrived on Joanna’s doorstep, a blank canvass to decorate however she liked. She decorated it with images from her upcoming book ‘The Hare on the Moon.’ The Hare was then auctioned at an indoor evening event at Chippenham Racecourse. Her Hare fetched ?1,400 which she was delighted with since on average the fiberglass hares made ?600. Her and her husband decided to buy it back to use it to promote her book when it came out, giving the money to charity.
2017 Joanna’s Christmas Book Exhibition and Sale
Joanna held an exhibition on Saturday 2nd December in her home in Keevil, Wiltshire. It presented the progress on her forthcoming book “The Hare in the Moon” where she shared the beautiful, intricate new Gold Borders and Drawings and you could also view other work with the potential to purchase Limited Edition Prints and Original Paintings at reduced prices for Xmas whilst enjoying a glass of wine. It was the first time she revealed the progress on her up and coming book and the show helped fund the production and the time off from having a gallery while she worked solidly from home for two years on the project. You could put your name down to pre-order The Hare on the Moon before it was released.
June 2019 The Global White Lion Protection Trust Show
The Global White Lion Protection Trust Show in June 2018… held at her home in Keevil, Wiltshire over two days. Linda Tucker the CEO of the White Lions attended with her husband Jason Turner along with the TV presenter, Paul Martin, and his wife, Charlotte, and their children, Dylan, and Merridith.
March 2023 A Love Letter to Wiltshire
A 20 Year celebration of beautiful Wiltshire through the eye of the Artist Joanna May
Her 20th Year in business she has named as a Love Letter to Wiltshire, to mark the occasion she held a 3-month Exhibition at Wiltshire Museum 18th March to 11th June, launched by Paul Martin, the TV presenter, a friend for 27 years and great admirer of her work.
Her new series of paintings to mark the anniversary are based on crop circles She says ‘A lot of my work is Wiltshire based so there’s a synergy. Crop circles are very much part of the county’s summer landscape and have always held a particular fascination.’
Joanna decided to link the crop circles symbolism to Wiltshire’s indigenous wildlife, including animals, birds and insects for her new paintings including gold leaf.
‘This inspired me to paint them in detail, reproducing indigenous British folk art and evoking a sense of awe through stunning, intricate and complex geometric designs.’
‘Also, my aim was to celebrate wildlife that could be found local to crop circles, wondering or flying in the fields they honoured, such as a barn owl or fox.’
September 2023 Corsham Gallery
In September 2023 Joanna shared a gallery with the TV presenter,Paul Martin, under his Gallery name’ The Table Gallery’ a space which sold Pauls Antiques and Joanna’s artwork. There was a soft opening with Joanna’s clients when she moved in. The gallery was closed in June 2024 so that Paul could concentrate on his TV presenting, after dinner speeches, and head of valuations for Henry Aldridges in Devizes. Joanna was reaching her 60thBirthday and wanted to take some time out to travel with her husband, David Ladd, before continuing to work from her home studio.
2025 Joanna’s 60th Year
The Year started with finishing a landmark commission ‘Timeless Durer Love’ a painting of a Wiltshire Crop Circle and a Hare in the position of Albrecht Durer’s Hare. This was the hare painting she fell in love with when she was young that inspired her to become an artist, little did she know at the time she would become well known for painting hares.
By the Spring Joanna and David, Joanna’s husband, bought a 1965 VW camper to travel around in (the year of Joanna’s birth) They took 3 months off which led into a cruise round the Mediterranean. Joanna celebrated her 60th onboard the Navigator, Regent Seven Seas.
David started a new job in Wales which lead to them buying their dream home, an Old Rectory with a separate studio in the grounds in Carmarthenshire. They decided it was time to have a Dalmatian puppy which they named Jas, short for Jasmin, to add to the family and for company for Ruby, their Bichon Frise. After moving in they have spent many moths decorating to make it their own.
2026 New Studio New Home in Wales
New beginnings, Joanna is continuing to settle into her new home and studio in the beautiful rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, Wales. The year has started with marketing and updating her website while continuing to decorate and train her Dalmatian puppy, Jas. She plans to be settled and creating in her new studio by the Spring… Please keep watching for more this year on Instagram, Facebook, and the website…
