Josephine Harris

In 1948, she enrolled at the Plymouth College of Art, where she learnt a careful observation of detail and skilful drawing under William Mann.^[2][3] She then worked at the Plymouth City Art Gallery, where she was involved in educating children about its collections and loaning pictures to local schools.^[2] In 1958, she moved to London where she unsuccessfully applied to the Royal College of Art.^[3] Instead, she gained employment as secretary and personal assistant to the Keeper of the Schools at the Royal Academy of Arts; first Sir Henry Rushbury and then his successor Peter Greenham.^[2][3] She continued painting, becoming a member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 1967 and exhibiting her work with the Royal Academy.^[2]

In 1969, Harris attended a glass decorating class by Peter Dreiser at Morley College.^[2] She left her job at the Royal Academy to set up a studio in Barnes, London, specialising in glass engraving.^[2][3] She worked with a diamond drill on vessels and larger architectural pieces, mostly to commission.^[2] These included memorial doors at St Mary's Church, Barnes, screen panels commemorating the Punjab Frontier Force in St Luke's Church, Chelsea, and a bowl celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Garden Museum.^[2] She was a founding member of the Guild of Glass Engravers in 1975, and became a "brother" of the Art Workers' Guild in 1981.^[2][3] She was also a member of the New English Art Club.^[4] She was elected Master of the Art Workers' Guild for 1997.^[3]

Harris never married nor had any children.^[3] She had an accident at home in 1986, and spent a long period in a convalescent home in Hartley, Plymouth.^[4] In 1996, she had a brain cyst removed.^[3]

Harris died on 28 September 2020, aged 89, having become frail in later life.^[3]