Late c19, Nicol’s Vulcan Works Aberdeen, James Nicol his family and workers.
Over several generations both sides of my family came from upper Donside, and in time, settled in Aberdeen. On my mother’s side were engineers and blacksmiths, while her father was a stained glass artist. Among my early memories are visits to Nicol’s Vulcan Works to watch my uncle welding and forging metal.
1951
Born in Aberdeen and raised in a street of mainly settled travellers. Summers were spent on a croft in highland Donside with Hedy & Helmut Heipt, close friends of my parents.
At Relaquheim (1954)
L-R David Watson, AW, Nance Watson, Hedy Heipt.
Photo: Helmut Heipt
1956-69
Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School with influential art teachers Donald Smith and Charles Hemingway with fellow pupils: Alan Cowie, Lennox Dunbar and Ian Howard. Summer employment included farm work, fruit picking, grouse beating and as a youth hostel warden.
With Neil Sandeman, Cairngorms. Photo: Richard Diack.
1969-74
Trained at Gray’s School of Art gaining a diploma and post diploma in printmaking and printed textiles, taught by Ainslie Yule and Malcolm McCoig, under George Mackie, Head of Design and Ian Fleming, Head of School.
Drawing by George Mackie
1973
Installing Diploma Show at Gray’s School of Art, in Printmaking and Printed Textiles.
Photo: Malcolm McCoig
1974
Established Peacock Printmakers (later Peacock Visual Arts), an open-access artists’ print workshop, publisher and gallery with Ian Fleming (chairman), Malcolm McCoig and Bill Baxter (board members). Named after the Aberdeen dancing master, Francis Peacock, who established his academy in this building in the 18th century.
Peacock logo. Drawn by Donald Addison.
1974-95
Worked as director and artist’s printer, serving on various Scottish Arts Council panels and committees as board member of several arts organisations, including the Scottish Sculpture Workshop, the 369 Gallery, Art in Partnership and the Richard Demarco Gallery & European Art Foundation. More recently Workshop and Studio Provision Scotland and the Pier Arts Centre.
The Early Workshop. Drawn by Charles Shearer.
1975
With traveller singer, from the right Lizzie Higgins with AW (left centre) at a recital of north east poetry and song organised by Annie Inglis, as part of Richard Demarco’s peripatetic summer school, Edinburgh Arts 75, at Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Photo: Richard Demarco, Demarco Digital Archive.
Late 1975
Invitation card for solo exhibition at Aberdeen Arts Centre, with Dave Robb(left) and Stewart Cordiner (right).
From a photo by Richard Diack.
1979
With Joyce Cairns, installing work at the Compass Gallery, Glasgow.
Photo: J Ian Young.
1979 Later
At the Compass private view with Ian McClure, paper conservator at Kelvingrove Museum and his son Calum.
Photos: J Ian Young.