Artist Statement
Alison Gibbons Watt paints with a deep-rooted sense of belonging, focusing on the ways in which history and personal experiences shape who we are. Her work is a heartfelt exploration of heritage and the life events that influence us. Through her work, she investigates the connection between past and present, pulling the thread across time, place, and memory.
“The Poetry of Place” series plunges us into the wild beauty of her native Scotland, where Alison’s recollections of the ocean and landscape hold personal significance. In these pieces, the names, locations, and scenery evoke her Celtic ancestry, weaving together personal and cultural memories.
In “The Threads We Weave” series, Alison’s figure drawings convey the female form through fluid, rhythmic lines that exude a sense of kinship and belonging. The drawings evolve intuitively with an uninterrupted sinuous line of ink. Often overlapping in relaxed poses, the figures suggest deep compassion and strong social bonds. These works evoke a sense of unity, the figures being interpreted either as companions or as different perspectives of the same person.
Exploring different cultures and corners of the world has always inspired Alison, providing a rich resource to draw from when in the studio. She channels the sensory experience of new places as a means of escape, recalling the scents, buildings, landscapes, and hues of a place that resonated with her. In “The Shape of Light” series, elements merge to create a visual scene that Alison articulates using abstract concepts, such as form, line, tone, and rhythm.
This fusion is also embodied in Alison’s latest collection, “Panama,” inspired by her recent trip. These artworks mirror her experiences in the historic area of Panama City, where the blend of past and present is palpable. Elongated shapes traverse rich color schemes in a refined balance, contemplating the city’s atmosphere and vibrant momentum along with the stories it preserves.
Alison’s art is ultimately about connection—to place, to memory, and to one another. Through her work, she seeks the threads that bind us, weaving them into a visual narrative that invites viewers to find their own sense of belonging.
ALISON GIBBONS WATT GALLERY
(Available at Taste)
Alison Gibbons Watt – Art for Website by Sarah Garrison
About Alison
Alison Gibbons Watt is a British artist currently based in Newport, Rhode Island, where she has nurtured her studio practice for the past three years after relocating from New York City. She has exhibited her work in galleries across the United States and internationally, including New York, London, Edinburgh, and Barcelona. An award-winning artist, Alison’s work is represented by galleries in New Hampshire, New York, Newport, and London.
Originally from the coastal town of Helensburgh on Scotland’s rugged West Coast, Alison’s early life was shaped by the beauty of her birthplace. She honed her craft at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, graduating with BA Honors with distinction, before earning her Masters in European Fine Art in Barcelona.
Alison’s art is deeply connected to place, whether it’s the serene landscapes of Scotland or the dynamic streets of Panama City. Through her work, she explores themes of belonging, identity, and the connections we form with the world around us.
To learn more about Alison and her work, please visit www.alisongibbonswatt.com.
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Education
1999-2000 Winchester School of Art,Barcelona, Spain
MA European Fine Art
1992-1996 Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland
1st Class Honours Degree Fine Art
1995-1996 Newcastle College of Art
BTEC Art and Design diploma
Exhibitions
2024 Newport Flower Show, Rosecliff Mansion, Taste Interiors solo show
2023 IRYS Boatyard, Solo Show, Newport, Rhode Island, solo show
2023 Pudding Stone Festival Launch, Solo Show, Newport, Rhode Island, solo show
2023 Gallery Sitka, Solo Show, Newport, Rhode Island, solo show
2022 Candita Clayton Gallery, New London, New Hampshire
2022 Dennis Miller Showroom, New York Design Center, Manhattan
2021 Candita Clayton Gallery, New London, New Hampshire
2021 Dennis Miller Showroom, New York Design Center, Manhattan
2020 Rhode Island 34th Annual Open Art Exhibition, Warwick Center for The Arts
2019 Hilton Hotel, Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York
2019 Undercurrent Gallery Open Studios, Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York
2018 Jane Newberry Gallery, Dulwich, London,
2018 Jay Street Gallery Open Art, Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York
2017 Jay Street Gallery Open Art, Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York
2016 Jane Newberry Gallery, Dulwich, London, group show
2016 The Fitzrovia Gallery, London, group show
2012 Cove Park Gallery Scottish Craft Council residency solo show, Argyll, London
2000 Selfridges Department London Store Oxford Street window display of paintings
1999 Galeria Palma Dotze, solo show
1998 Nau Art, Barcelona, Spain, group show
1998 Roger Bilcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow, Scotland, group show
1997 Howard Street Gallery St. Enoch, Glasgow, Scotland, group show
1996 Gallery 12, Holborn, London, group show
1996 Aberdeen Art Gallery, Scottish Society of Artists, group show
1996 Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland, group show
1996 Aberdeen Hospital, group show
Awards & Residencies
Scottish Crafts Council 6 week residency award
Shortlisted for solo show in Times Square
Royal Scottish Academy Painting Award
The Mclaine Watter Medal