Undiscovered Scotland

 

"Donald Watson: Bird Artist and Writer" edited by Roger Crofts is a lovely book about the life and art of Donald Watson. Donald Watson lived from 1918 to 2005. He was born in Surrey but moved to Edinburgh after the early death of his father in 1931. His interest in art and wildlife had begun at an early age. In Edinburgh, he was a pupil at Edinburgh Academy and became involved in the Midlothian Ornithologists’ Club before going on to become a founder member of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club in 1936.

The book draws together a series of accounts of aspects of Donald Watson's life and work. We read about him as an artist, as a father and as a friend. We also read about his book on the Hen Harrier; about his skills as a writer and illustrator; about his work as a conservation campaigner; and about his legacy project "Watson Birds". There is something rather wonderful about any book that manages to convey the sense that it is and will forever remain the definitive work on the subject it covers. "Donald Watson: Bird Artist and Writer" is one of those books.

But while the written content of this book is impressive, it's only part of its attraction. Any book setting out to cover the life of an artist is faced with the challenge of conveying the quality of the artist's work to readers. This book does that beautifully. It is extensively illustrated. In part this is with colour and black and white photographs of Donald Watson and his life and interests: but there is also a lot of his art reproduced here, at a size large enough to be appreciated, even by those like me who have never encountered him as an artist before.

This is an outstanding book that fully does justice to the life and art of its subject and should be considered essential reading - and viewing - by anyone with an interest in birds, bird art or bird protection.

There is more about the background to the book in the publisher's description of it: "Donald Watson was a seminal figure in the wildlife art and ornithological world from the late 1950s onwards. Since his death in 2005, his work has lived on through active public demand for his outstanding paintings of birds and the continued reading of his books. Until now, there has been no book assessing his status and standing in the world of bird art and ornithology."

It continues: "This definitive book is a series of biographical essays written by those who knew him and his outstanding contributions. There are so many perceptive insights about him and his work, and many previously untold stories that enliven the text. Reading the stories will bring back memories for all who knew him and hopefully inspire those who didn't but who follow in his footsteps. Readers will find detailed accounts of his life, his character, his work ethic, his link with his ornithologist son Jeff, his high standing in the world of raptor workers written by his daughter Louise, his daughter-in-law Vanessa and by his close friend and neighbour Chris Rollie. His high standing in raptor protection and especially his outstanding Hen Harrier work is updated by Des Thompson and Colin Galbraith. The author reviews his writing skills and describes how his conservation campaigns are still relevant today. They will also learn so much about his art from the perceptive in-depth account by John Threlfall, himself a very successful wildlife artist. Beautifully illustrated with his outstanding paintings, examples of his exquisite scraper board sketches and family photographs, readers will want this book for its images alone."