Belfast born, Joseph McWilliams was educated in the Belfast College of Art and the Open University. He was Senior Course Tutor at the University of Ulster. He is current President of the R.U.A. He has exhibited in Ireland, Britain, Europe and the USA.

Collections:
N.I. Arts Council, Queen's University, The Ulster Museum, Coras Iompair Eireann, The N.I. Civil Service, A.I.B., The National Self-Portrait Collection.

McWilliams is a lecturer and Broadcaster on the Visual Arts in N.Ireland. He lectured in Boston, USA, James Joyce School in Trieste and in Slovenia. He is best known for his paintings of "The Troubles" ; Exhibitions such as, "Art for Society" Whitechapel Gallery London, "Documenta 6" Kassel, W. Germany, "A Troubled Journey 1966-1989 "and "Colour on the March" at the Cavehill Gallery Belfast.

He has been the President of the Royal Ulster Academy from 2000 - 2004.