In his early teens, the Bradford artist, Mike Joyce, was discouraged from painting in art classes by a school teacher. But the instinct to draw and paint never deserted him and in recent years, particularly after retirement, he has actively pursued watercolour painting. He now has had the satisfaction of seeing his artwork exhibited both inside and outside of the Yorkshire region.
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Born in Essex, his early childhood and teenage years were spent in Benfleet, South Essex by the Thames Estuary. The beauty of the area spurred a desire, even at a young age, to capture the scenes in art. This aim came to fruition later in life; see below:
Looking toward Southend Pier, evening. Image: see artist’s Instagram below.
However, in the early 1960s, at his local Secondary Modern School, his art teacher told him that his artwork was ‘useless’: a crushing message for the 13 year old teenager, and one that stayed with him for many years. In 1967 he transferred to a nearby Grammar School, where he passed A levels in Geography and History, and additional GCE O levels.
In 1969 Mike began teacher training at Culham College outside Oxford, studying Geography, History and Education, and graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Education degree.
He began then a 35 year teaching career in Middle and Primary Schools in Surrey, the Isle of Wight, and finally Bradford. In 1985, by this time married to his wife, Liz, Mike became Deputy Head of a Middle school on the Buttershaw Estate in South Bradford.:
The staff thought I was mad coming from the Isle of Wight to Buttershaw. I loved it! A year later I became one of the youngest Headteachers in Bradford. I stayed for 15 years until all the Middle Schools were closed in 2000. A sad day.
This art class was led by an inspirational teacher called Kathleen Trotter and the first term was dedicated to drawing, the second to watercolour, a third to oil painting. I enjoyed the year immensely .
The Crowstone, Thames Estuary. Image: see artist’s Instagram, below.
City Hall, Bradford. Image: see artist’s Instagram below
Main Street, Haworth. Image: see artist’s Instagram below
In 2008, Mike retired from teaching and began to devote more time to painting, as well as managing a commercial apiary with 120 hives that he an Liz had started in 1999.
In the Bradford district, he entered paintings to the annual Keighley Shows, winning ‘Best’ in the art section on four occasions. In addition, Mike’s paintings have also been shown at The Bingley Little Theatre, and in 2025 at St. James Church, Thornton as part of the Bradford City of Culture year. At the St. James Church exhibition he displayed three works of Ogden Water, Denholme; one sold at the show and went to America. His paintings also caught the attention of writer, Andrew Liddle, who subsequently profiled Mike in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus during November, 2025. He told Andrew Liddle that his method:
Is that of the traditional artist of this kind, beginning with a pencil sketch, then adding a layer of wash, starting with the sky. Other layers will add tonal depths before line work will develop finer detail and shade … It’s amazing the sense of calm and happiness that comes from working in this way, as watercolourists always have capturing the play of light on water, say, or bright foliage against a darkening sky.”
Tide Out. Thames Estuary. Image: see artist’s Instagram below
Snow Scene, Thornton Valley.
Mike has continued to develop his painting at a weekly art class in Queensbury run by the Calderdale artist, Jane Gamble,. He told Andrew Liddle that he is still making up for lost time:
You never stop learning. And I am more determined than ever to bring out whatever artistic talent I have that lay dormant for so long.
Artist contact: Instagram at Mike Joyce Art.