Joanne Drayton

Dr Joanne Drayton was born in Balclutha and spent her early years in Invercargill. She was educated in Christchurch, gaining her doctorate at the University of Canterbury in 2000.

She has published papers on art history and theory and lectured and taught since 1981. She’s currently a senior lecturer in the Unitec School of Design in Auckland.

She has written Edith Collier: her life and work (1999) which the Sunday Star Times described as 'well-structured, balancing biography with intelligent consideration of Collier's oeuvre' and Rhona Haszard: an expatriate New Zealand artist (2002) and curated exhibitions that toured New Zealand of the work of these two significant artists. Frances Hodgkins: a private viewing appeared in 2005.

She was awarded the National Library Fellowship in 2007 to research and write a new biography of Ngaio Marsh. A new biography of our most famous author is eagerly awaited and Drayton’s background in art may emphasise Dame Ngaio’s interest and ability in art as well as her local fame as stage director.  And there is the international fame as one of the most famous female detective story writers of all time.

Find more information about Joanne Drayton

• in the library catalogue