James watt catalogue

JAMES WATT

James Watt, RGI (b.1931) Sea Salt and Engine Oil 6 February - 1 March 2014

Left: Irish Landscape, oil on canvas board, 18 x 22 cms

Introduction “My paintings have always been a reflection of my lifestyle. The magic of the sea, ships and shore together with the drama of a northern sky in all its moods and variations have been a constant source of wonder and inspiration throughout my career.”

James Watt, The Clyde, an artist’s river, 2013 James Watt was born in Port Glasgow in 1931. His father was a riveter and from an early age he was immersed in the life of the docks. He trained at Glasgow School of Art from 1950 to 1954 under David Donaldson, with fellow students including James Morrison and Alasdair Gray. Like many artists his inspiration came from the life around him and the dockyards and shipping of the river Clyde. Much of the heavy industry has now declined, and a way of life is now lost to time. The works in this exhibition vary in subject matter from the Faroe Islands, Ireland, Greenock and Crinan and come from a private collection. All are painted with an immediacy only obtainable to those masterful at their craft. His contribution to Scottish art was recently acknowledged at a major retrospective exhibition at The Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock and we are delighted to host this modest exhibition of one of Scotland’s finest maritime painters.

Right: James Watt Painting at the Dock, Greenock c.1960

Stormlight, Crinan, 1975 oil on canvas, 30.5 x 61 cms

Crinan Lighthouse oil on canvas, 30.5 x 40.5 cms

Sgarbh and Truant on their Moorings oil on canvas, 30.5 x 45.5 cms

M U Sgarbh in Canal Basin oil on canvas, 35.5 x 51 cms

Torfrida, Crinan, oil on canvas, 30.5 x 61 cms

Sands of Morar and Cuillins oil on canvas, 30.5 x 61 cms

The Faroese Boat, Huitanes, 1993 oil on canvas, 56 x 76.5 cms

The Harmony in the Canal oil on canvas, 46 x 61.5 cms

Storm Bound, Canal oil on canvas, 56 x 92 cms

Boats in the Basin oil on canvas, 45.5 x 35.5 cms

Victoria Docks, Greenock oil on canvas, 61 x 102 cms

Irish Landscape oil on canvas board, 18 x 22 cms

The Moss, Bellanoch, Crinan oil on canvas board, 24 x 29 cms

James Watt RGI

1931 – Born, Port Glasgow 1950 – 1954 – Glasgow School of Art 1954 – Solo exhibition at Greenock Arts Guild, Greenock (also 1975, 77, 80, 86) 1954 – Exhibitor with The Society of Scottish Artists 1955 – National Service in East Yorkshire Regiment 1957 – Founder member of The Young Glasgow Group 1958 – 1990 Exhibitor with The Glasgow Group 1964 – Painted mural for Port Glasgow Town Hall 1965 – Elected member of Society of Scottish Artists 1967 – Visited Doohoma County Mayo, where he and the family would return often 1966 – Painted mural for Canniesburn Hospital 1969 – Appointed Principal of art at St Columba’s High School, Greenock

1979 - Exhibition at Kelvin Gallery, Glasgow 1989 – 1996 - Exhibitions at Smidjan I Litluvik, Torshavn 1992 - Exhibition at TR Annan and Sons, Glasgow 1994 - Exhibition at John D Kelly Gallery, Glasgow 1995 - Exhibition at McLean Museums and Art Gallery 1997 – Awarded Royal Bank of Scotland Award at Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts 2002 – Elected RGI 2003 – Travelled to Peru, sailed the Amazon 2008 - Exhibition at Cyril Gerber Fine Art, Glasgow 2013 – Major retrospective at The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock 2013 – Publication of monograph ‘The Clyde, an artist’s river’

Left: The artist with his award winning painting ‘Coals to Hunterston’, Royal Glasgow Institute, 1997 Back cover: Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, 1960s