Joe Dias was born in Carlisle in 1956. Joe studied Fine Art at Carlisle College of Art and Design and then at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne  Polytechnic from 1976 - 1979 where he gained a 2:1 Honours Degree in Fine Art. In 2008 he completed an MA in Contemporary Fine Art at the University of Cumbria.

In 2009 he completed a Post Graduate Certificate of Eductation awarded by the University of Cumbria and he still lives and works in the county.