The Watt Institution

15/10/2026

For today’s Art UK theme of ‘Contemporary Portraiture’ from our collection we have chosen ‘Lovers’ by the Greenock artist Douglas Thomson (1955-2022).
Douglas studied at the Glasgow School of Art before later studying at, and working for, the prestigious Patrick Allan-Fraser School of Art, Hospitalfield, Arbroath. During his long career he exhibited across the UK and Europe.
The work can be seen as part of our recent redisplay of works from our art collection.
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01/10/2026

The Watt Institution will start welcoming back visitors from 30th September. The Watt Institution has been closed for several months to allow for the installation of a new lift to improve accessibility to upper levels for wheelchairs, prams, and people with mobility issues and for other upgrades.

The building is being reopened in phases starting with the Watt Hall, Watt Library, Art Gallery and Egypt Gallery.

Two new art exhibitions will display rarely seen work by a number of famous Scottish painters including Scottish Colourists F.C.B Cadell and Samuel John Peploe alongside others by Glasgow Boy E.A. Hornel and Anne Redpath.

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01/10/2026

For today’s Art UK and the theme ‘Autumn’ we’ve selected from our new exhibition ‘Glen Urquhart’ by Joseph Morris Henderson, RSA (1836-1936).

Henderson was the youngest son of the artist Joseph Henderson RSW. His two elder brothers were also artists. He studied at Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Art and specialised in land and seascapes.

He was closely linked to both the Glasgow Art Club and the Paisley Art Institute and was President of the Scottish Artists Benevolent Association for several years. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1928 and an Academician in 1935.

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18/09/2026

For today’s Art UK and the theme ‘Rural’ we’ve selected Highland Sheep Shearers' by Alice Edith Ross (1863-1954)
Alice was a painter and book illustrator born in Glasgow who spent most of her working life in Edinburgh. Her work reflected traditional rural scenes and pastimes with the years between 1886-1937 being her most productive.

This worked was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts in both 1928 and 1934. Initially as ‘Perthshire Sheep Shearers’ and then ‘Highland Sheep Shearer’, the title we know it as.

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02/09/2026

01/09/2026

🔎 A Sherlock Holmes connection in our collection! 🕵️‍♂️🐋

What does a whaling harpoon from our collection have to do with literature’s most famous detective?

In 1880, Arthur Conan Doyle served as ship’s surgeon aboard the Arctic whaling ship Hope — and we have a harpoon from the vessel in our collection.

Doyle’s experiences on his Arctic voyage later found their way into his writing, including “The Adventure of Black Peter,” one of Sherlock Holmes’ cases, in which a murder is committed using a whaling harpoon!

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20/08/2026

Today’s Art UK theme is holidays and travel. ☀️🎨

We’ve selected Cassis, painted in 1913 by Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson.

Travel played a major role in shaping Fergusson’s work. After moving to Paris in 1907, he encountered the bold colours and expressive forms of Fauvism, which had a lasting influence on his distinctive style.

Fergusson regularly travelled to the South of France with fellow Scottish Colourist Samuel John Peploe, and lived for a time at Cap d’Antibes. He continued to return to the region throughout his life, inspired by its brilliant light, landscapes and vibrant colours.

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17/08/2026

🎒 Back to school!

Wishing everyone heading back to school this week a fantastic start to the new school year! 📚✏️

To mark the occasion, we’re looking back over 100 years ago to this wonderful photograph of a class from Hillend Primary School, Greenock, pictured with their teacher and janitor. C.1920.

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13/08/2026

Today's Art UK theme is Forms of portraiture: Who am I to you? Leeds University Library Galleries we’ve selected‘Holy Joe in the Mountains’ by Seán Keating (1889–1977).

Trained under William Orpen at Dublin's Metropolitan School of Art, Keating rejected the rise of abstract art in favour of a powerful social-realist style, portraying Ireland's everyday labourers, islanders, and local figures as true national heroes.

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12/08/2026

Will you be watching the solar eclipse this evening? 🌒

This 1968 screen print by Malcolm McCoig (b. 1941) captures a partial solar eclipse alongside a pair of striking blue binoculars.

But remember: never look directly at the Sun during an eclipse! ☀️👀

Instead, use proper solar eclipse glasses or try a simple indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector — or even a colander to project the eclipse safely. 🔭

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