Joe Hargan DA, PPAI, PAI was born in Glasgow in 1952. Joe studied drawing and painting at the Glasgow School of Art from 1970-1974 under influential painters such as Danny Ferguson RSW, RGI, Drummond Bone RSW and James Robertson RSW, RGI, RSA.

He was the founder member and President of Group 81 Artists, who regularly exhibited at the McLellan Galleries in Glasgow. In 1981 he was elected a member of the Glasgow Art Club and then In 1985 he became a Member of the Paisley Art Institute. Later that year he was elected Council Member of the Institute and in 1989 he was voted Chairman and President, a post he held for 11 years.  He is currently President of the Glasgow Art Club, a position he has held since 2018.

Joe has exhibited regularly since the early 1970's at the RA, National Portrait Gallery, RGI, RWS, RSW, RSA, PAI and BWS. He is widely recognised as one of the most talented and distinguished painters living and working in Scotland today. In 1996 he was awarded the prestigious PAI Diploma for the quality of his paintings and his services to Scottish art. Joe has been described as “a clever artist for clever buyers”.