Paintings and Sketches

Over 120 examples of Donald’s work are available to view here. These will be added to over time.

Examples of Donald’s paintings can be purchased from the shop at CatStrand, New Galloway in the form of A3 and A4 sized posters, A6 size letter cards and A6 siz

The first exhibition held in the Watson Room at The Smiddy, Balmaclellan from November 2020 to December 2021 was Bird Studies.  It focused on Donald’s ability to paint birds precisely. They were all painted in 1978. By then he was a well-established bird artist with the publication of The Oxford Book of Birds in 1964 and Birds of Moor and Mountain in 1972. In these works, and in the paintings on display, he demonstrated his ability to depict birds in their natural habitat and in association with other bird species of the same habitat, although they are not usually seen together.  He also demonstrated his ability to translate the fine detail from his annotated black and white sketches in his field note books to the canvas, either painting in the open air or back in his studio.

As part of the development of the signposted trails for Watson Birds, a new exhibition has been mounted in the Watson Room at The Smiddy, Balmaclellan in January 2022. It has reproductions of Donald Watson’s paintings for each of the 9 sites of the Donald Watson Art Trail around The Glenkens. It has the illustrations of the birds that can be seen on the Donald Watson Bird Walk around St John’s Town of Dalry. And it has a reproduction of the overall interpretation installed shortly in the garden of Dalry Town Hall introducing the trails and the project as a whole. Please check with The CatStrand for access to the exhibition.

If you own any of Donald Watson’s paintings, line drawing or sketches and would be prepared to lend it to us for exhibitions please get in touch roger@watsonbirds.org

If you would like to donate a Donald Watson painting, line drawing or sketch that would be gratefully received. Please contact roger@watsonbirds.org