Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.
It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.