Irene Watson

Irene Watson builds her paintings slowly on canvas or linen. She applies oil, pigment, wax, sand and collage, then covers or removes parts of the surface. Earlier stages remain visible beneath the finished work, which gives each painting a sense of time.

Fragments of words often appear within the image. They do not explain the subject or form a complete statement. They suggest a voice that is present and only partly accessible. This treatment of writing recalls Cy Twombly, although Watson connects it more directly to questions of testimony and representation.

Landscape also appears in her work, though rarely as a recognisable place. It becomes a mental space shaped by pressure and restraint. Her long-term engagement with people navigating systems of protection informs the emotional tone of the paintings.

Irene Watson also works through artist books, experimental writing and performance. Collaboration shapes the way she approaches authorship. Over several decades, her work has been presented in the United Kingdom and abroad through exhibitions, installations, commissions and community-based projects. She has also received several awards and scholarships.

Photo : © Hamish Niven