Joan Dukes

Joan Ivory Dukes (née Packham; 19 August 1903 – 25 September 1993) was a New Zealand artist and illustrator.

Early life and family Dukes was born Joan Ivory Packham in Croydon near London on 19 August 1903 as the eldest child of Claude and Emma Elizabeth Packham. She attended the Croydon School of Art and received an Arts and Crafts movement-influenced training. After moving to New Zealand, she married (Russell) Lowell Dukes on 6 June 1936 at St John's Church, Dannevirke, and they first lived in New Plymouth. In 1948 or 1949, the couple moved to St Kilda in Dunedin, and then to Christchurch in 1952. Dukes designed and made her own wedding dress, which is now held in the collection of Puke Ariki in New Plymouth.

Death and legacy Dukes died in Christchurch on 25 September 1993, a few weeks after her 90th birthday. Sixteen of her art works were bequeathed to the Christchurch Art Gallery in 1994, most of them illustrations featuring interesting characters.