Joan Painter was born in Bristol, where she later studied under Gwen Pallin. She first exhibited her work at the International Congress for Art in Education, Prague, at the early age of 15. She was a regular exhibitor at the Reigate Society of Artists, where she was a member from 1965. She also studied at Reigate College of Art.

Joan was a teacher of art and taught Further Education classes at the Friend's Centre, Brighton and Dupont Arts, Hove, where she lived. She was married to George Painter, biographer of Proust and Chateaubriand.

Her work has been called "powerful and poetic". She exhibited many times. Details of some of her exhibitions are to be found on the Exhibition page of this website. Worthing Museum and King's College, London hold examples of her work.
Joan features in the Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945 by David Buchman.