Joyce is the only child of Jack and Nellie McGrath [nee Watson] both born and raised in the Bass Valley. Jack became a soldier settler in Rd cliffs after his return from Gallipoli, and following his death Nellie returned to Glen Forbes where Joyce attended school at Glen Forbes South. 

Art Studies: 
Joyce studied Drawing under Harold Freedman at RMIT and Painting in the Burke Street Studios of Amalie and D.Colquhoun.

Awards: 
1990 won the AME Bale Award for painting
2000 won the Rembrandt Melbourne Artists Supplies Award for landscape.

Exhibitions:
1955 began exhibiting with the Victorian Artists Society. 
1990 began exhibiting with Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors
1998  Survey Exhibition with the Victorian Artists Society.
Portia Geach and James Farrell Portrait Prize Exhibitions

Collections: 
Commissioned portraits in the Royal Children's' Hospital, three at Mannix College, Monash University, others in private collections in Australia and  overseas.

Membership:
Council member Victorian Artists' Society since 1990
Member Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors
Recent years taken up miniature painting and become a committee member of the Australian Society of Miniature Art

Bibliography:
1. Who's Who of Australian Visual Artists,    2nd edition Melbourne, Thorpe 1995

2. "More Than Just Gumtrees: a Personal, Social and Artistic History of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors Society by Juliet Peers, Melbourne, Dawn Revival Press, 1993

3. "Joyce V. McGrath at the V.A.S." In  "Antiques & Art in Victoria", December 1997- April 1997, p37.

4."Plaster and Paint" by Jan Harper