After Leaving Art School in 1969, Roger Watt Embarked on a Career As an Art Director In

Artist Statement:

The physical process of putting marks on paper with graphite is distinctly personal as it is a link to my father who first instilled in me the pure joy of drawing. I have long had a fascination for the effects of light . . . often in reflections and on industrial metal . . . and my drawings increasingly explore its atmospheric properties in spontaneous everyday situations.

Roger Watt, 2015

Overview:

An accomplished scraperboard artist within the advertising industry, my father first exposed me to the pure joy of drawing around the age of three . . . since when it’s been an ever-present passion in my life.

My inspirational drawing tutor at art school instilled in me the importance of (in his words) “not putting anything down on paper unless it’s right” . . . which has been my mantra ever since . . . not only as an artist but also throughout my 40+ year career as an art director in international publishing, from which period I am eternally grateful for the friendship, advice and influence of the truly exceptional artists and illustrators with whom I was fortunate enough to work.

While most of my career was spent as a typographer, graphic designer, photographer and

art/publishing director, I always found time for drawing . . . indeed, it became a priceless retreat from the pressures of my ‘day job’ until I decided to devote myself to it full time shortly after my life-changing relocation from the UK to Vancouver.

My drawings are based totally on my own reference photography and, where possible, preparatory drawings from life . . . and while my preferred subject matter has long revolved around metal and reflections, my recent work is more about exploring the spontaneous effects of light.

Biography:

Born: 1947, London

Education: 1966 -1969, Watford School of Art

Selected Exhibitions

2015-Solo show, George Billis Gallery, New York

2015-Winter Show, Plus One Gallery, London

2015-“Artists of the Year 2014”, Curator Gallery, New York

2014-“Industrial Beauty”, George Billis Gallery, New York

2014-“Verisimilitude” (curated by Ethan Karp), Curator Gallery, New York

2014- Solo Show, O K Harris Gallery, New York

2012- Summer Show, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver

2012- “Expanding Horizons”, Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver

2011- “Surface Appearances”, Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver

2011- “Emotions of Railway Art”, National Railway Museum, York

2011- “Spring Seven”, Federation Gallery, Vancouver

2010- “AIRS” (Annual International Representational Show), Federation Gallery, Vancouver

2010- “The Drawing Room”, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver

2010- “Capturing the Canadian Spirit”, Federation Gallery, Vancouver

2009- “A Common Surface”, Ferry Building Gallery, Vancouver

2009- “The Art of Realism”, Cityscape Gallery, Vancouver

2004- “Along Artistic Lines”, National Railway Museum, York

2003- The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London

2002- With Turner Prizefinalist Roger Hiorns, Marc Foxx Gallery, Los Angeles

2002- WithTurner Prizefinalist Roger Hiorns, Corve Mora Gallery, London