Representing Nature – An Exhibition by Colin Watson RUA

The paintings in the show all have great personal significance to Colin. These smaller paintings are more spontaneous that his larger works, but there remains a desire to infuse each picture with a certain degree of mystery.

Although the choices of subject are personal, the paintings, hopefully, are also universal and have meaning beyond the painter’s initial inspiration.

Alongside studies towards fully realised paintings this exhibition also presents stand alone, spontaneous, intuitive works that directly respond to observed natural phenomena. This selection of works represents a cross section of his working methods beyond the finished paintings.

Colin Watson lives and works in Belfast. He has held seven solo exhibitions in London,   as well as in Dublin, Northern Ireland and Morocco.  In October 2008, Colin was invited by HRH The Prince of Wales to accompany him on the Royal Tour of Japan, Brunei and Indonesia, as his official Tour Artist.

Colin Watson has exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, the Royal Ulster Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy, winning awards at the latter two including two gold medals at the Royal Ulster Academy, one awarded by the President of the Royal Academy, Sir Christopher Le Brun. He was also awarded the Ireland Fund of Great Britain Annual Arts Award in 1999. His work has been included in the BP Portrait Prize Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibitions and at the Discerning Eye at the Mall Galleries in London.

Colin Watson’s work is held in collections worldwide, including the Royal Collection of His Majesty King Charles III and in the collection of the King of Morocco. He is also represented in a number of public collections, including the Ulster Museum, Moroccan Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, Limerick and the Royal Geographical Society, London with a portrait of Sir Wilfred Thesiger, the British explorer and travel writer.

At noon Sat 26^th July, as part of EastSide Arts Festival, there will be a special British Sign Language event with BSL interpretation of a gallery tour by gallery owner Dr Ann McVeigh. This is free, with no booking required.

All artworks are available to buy.

You can also buy art from this exhibition through the Own Art scheme which gives you an interest-free loan over 10 months (and you still get to take the art home immediately the exhibition ends).