Fiona Crawford Watson

I am a Scotland-based artist working mainly in printmaking (etching and screenprinting), painting and collage. I edited medical journals and books for years and years, but a visual expression of my scientific interests has always preoccupied me.

The main visual influence on my work was studying biology/biochemistry- an invaluable system of observation and interpretation. Other constant sources of inspiration include beachcombing, travel, music, bookshops, ephemera, the inconspicuous, things misread, out of focus, discarded, Photoshop, Google, wild goose chases, the space between dreams and waking, snippets of conversation, family and friends.

Photography is a fairly recent obsession for me and started with the introduction of digital cameras. So far, I only use a little point and shoot camera, but the ability to carry this everywhere seems to be my main priority at the moment.

Portfolio

Portraits

Photo Journalism

Projects

Landscapes

Stock Photography

Artist's Statement

The essence of my photography is the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi- the beauty of simple everyday things- the imperfect, impermanent, incomplete, overlooked or discarded.

As a visual artist, photography for me was a means to an end just to help with composition, portraits, etc . But the digital camera has transformed the way I see things. I can now catch that glimpse of light or shadow seen out the corner of my eye. My little snapshot camera is always in my pocket- it is my 3rd eye. Photography and digital prints are are now an integral part of my work along with etchings and paintings.

My inspiration is really just the everyday- the flotsam and jetsam I notice and pick up along the way- pebbles, shells, twigs, weeds, fabric, bird's nests, eggs, old bottles, discarded notes, graffiti, rust, cake, a sparkle in someone's eye, etc.

I try to make you look again at what you barely notice.

Favorite Photos (of mine)

Utata Member Page for Fiona Crawford Watson