WILLIAM'S CORNER

Salman Toor at The Courtauld, Waterhouse and a first look at something from the studio...

From the archive, William Watson-West, Autumn 2 (2019), acrylic on linen board, 40 x 50 cm

Hello! It’s been a little while since the last William’s Corner (February last year in fact!), so thank you for sticking with me. You might have seen in my last email why I’ve been quiet, but now I’m back at it with lots of exciting things on the horizon.

This time I’ve been to see Salman Toor: Someone Like You at The Courtauld, visited the new Waterhouse restaurant, and there’s an update to Create Your Painting as well as news from the studio including a first look at a couple of exciting projects I’ve been working on.

ALL THINGS ARTY

Salman Toor: Someone Like You at The Courtauld

This month I made it to Salman Toor: Someone Like You at The Courtauld. I hadn’t visited a large exhibition for a while and the images of Toor’s paintings I’d seen intrigued me.

 

On a dreich Tuesday afternoon a trip to The Courtauld is life-affirming and this one surpassed my expectations.

I wasn’t sure Toor’s first major European solo exhibition would live up to the hype, but the glowing reviews are deserved.

I hadn’t come across Toor before but now consider him up there with the most significant contemporary painters I’ve seen. Despite the sometimes challenging subject matter with hints of darkness, despair and loneliness, the paintings are generally full of life with touches of humour and caricature. I love the play on composition in several pieces that are modern interpretations of scenes from Old Masters such as Bruegel.

The majority of the paintings stand out for the alluring shade of emerald green used. The artist states that although the colour is often associated with envy or poison, he finds it ‘velvety, nocturnal and comforting’, and as noted by the gallery, it creates an ‘otherworldly atmosphere’ which I found fascinating and absorbing.

Salman Toor, Bar Boy (2019), The Courtauld

A couple of favourites were Bar Boy (2019) and The Inheritors (2022). The jewel-like paintings drew me in and I couldn’t stop looking at them, noticing new details and symbols. Whilst Toor’s life is very different from mine, I found similarities in the way the artist draws on the subjects of meaning, solitude, love and loss, and I could really feel something deeper than the aesthetics of these paintings alone.

The exhibition is relatively small but there is also a selection of the artist’s wonderful drawings exhibited in a separate part of the gallery and there is of course the rest of the gallery’s permanent collection to view - the perfect place to escape to on a rainy day.

The exhibition continues until 10 Jan 2027 and is well worth a visit.

Salman Toor, The Inheritors (2022), The Courtauld

FOODIE MUSINGS

You may have read in one of my previous newsletters about a favourite restaurant of mine, The Water House Project. Waterhouse is the next chapter in the restaurant’s story.

Waterhouse,

7A Ezra St, London E2 7RH

Having come to the end of their lease in Bethnal Green, owners Gabriel and Trish decided it was time to take the next step, and only a month or so after closing The Water House Project, opened Waterhouse, just off the bustling Columbia Road, famous for its Sunday flower market.

Waterhouse is the perfect distillation of everything Gabriel and Trish have been working on since first starting their supper clubs in their flat several years ago.

Maisie and I were lucky enough to be invited to the opening a couple of months ago and we were immediately taken with the new set-up.

It’s an oasis of calm, exuding the warmth that Gabriel and Trish have come to be known for. With a courtyard entrance where they plan to grow herbs and then a bar area with the perfect balance of contemporary design and antique objets d’art, everything has been meticulously considered.

Now firmly rooted in its Northumbrian influence, Gabriel’s homeland, the food is as wonderful as ever. Highlights include a warming broth to start that sets you up for a generous tasting menu of delights including baby crumpets with homemade lardo and the crispest and tastiest mushroom tartlets. On Sundays they now serve a sharing dish as part of the menu - on my last visit the most delicious hogget hot-pot I’ve ever had and then a beautiful selection of British cheeses served with homemade Fat Rascal crackers and honeycomb from Northumberland.

Every detail has been thought through - the flow from the bar to the dining room, the lighting and decor, the non-alcoholic drinks and the wine pairings.

You can tell that the whole team takes pride in working here and Gabriel and Trish’s gentle passion and generosity shine through all that they do.

Head there on a Sunday for a long lunch after exploring the charming independent shops on Columbia Road; it’s the perfect place to escape the crowds of the flower market and indulge in hospitality at its most warm and inspiring.

The dining room is open by reservation only so booking is essential.

INSPIRATION UPDATE

William Watson-West, The Pocket (2026), acrylic on ply panel

Most recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the places we go to hide. As a child I was forever building dens, and I’ve realised I still do it as an adult; it just looks a little bit different now. A favourite pub on an autumn evening, the studio with the door shut, a hilltop near my parents’ house or the road out to the Highlands in Scotland.

That feeling has become the starting point for my new body of work, which I’m calling Sanctuary for now. As an initial project that sits within this body I’ve been sketching (and testing the beer!) in various London pubs that I have an affinity for. London has some incredibly old and historic watering holes and the feeling they evoke as third spaces intrigues me. I’m trying to capture that feeling and look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.

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  William Watson-West, Pub sketches

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  William Watson-West, Pub Sketches

William Watson-West, Pub Sketches

RECENT WORK

I’ve been going through my archives in my London and Yorkshire studios and have found paintings that I haven’t shared at all or not for a long time including smaller works on paper and pieces from older series. Making way for new work, I’m putting together a small Studio Archive, and as a subscriber you’ll get to see it before it goes public. Keep an eye on your inbox over the next couple of weeks. (A hint of what’s coming is at the top of this email.)

Create Your Painting now comes in two forms. Since launching my accessible commissions, a few of you have mentioned how much you enjoyed the more personal element from my previous Painting Answers project, so now there’s a second option.

Create Your Painting - Your Colours

START YOU PAINTING

Create Your Painting - Your Story

START YOUR PAINTING

GALLERY NEWS

• I’m really pleased that Novus Gallery in Helmsley will be taking on a selection of my work in the next few weeks.

• A couple of my latest pieces (Dreaming of the Woods, pictured below, and Forest Doorway) have been selected for the Zillah Bell Gallery winter exhibition (opening at the end of November).

• Looking ahead, I’m preparing for an exhibition at Pyramid Gallery, York, in January next year. More on that next time!

William Watson-West, Dreaming of the Woods (2026), acrylic on linen board, 18 x 24 cm

STAY UP TO DATE

If you know someone who’d enjoy William’s Corner, please do forward it on; it really helps. Thank you, as always, to everyone who has bought a painting, commissioned one, or simply read this far.

I’ll be in touch again soon.

Very best wishes,

William

ART + WINE (+ oysters!)

Reviewing the latest Art + Wine event at Oeno Maris, Newington Green

Following on from Kate Morrison and William Watson-West's first ART + WINE event last summer they kicked off this year with an evening at Oeno Maris, a stunning venue

run by partners, Master Fishmonger, Dan Murphy and wine expert, Sarah Miller.

The event showcased the recent work by Kate and William that they had guided and

paired with wines with Sarah at their studios in Stoke Newington. And of course it couldn’t have been hosted at Oeno Maris without highlighting their superb produce, so oysters were ready to be shucked and enjoyed as well.

This event was an even bigger hit than the first, the concept of ART + WINE bringing

together likeminded communities eager to experience this crossover of palate and

mind.

It was great to see such a mix of people enjoying our concept, proving how accessible

and approachable art and wine can be; being able to engage with local communities is

something we believe is integral to being an artist today.

Take a moment to read through the pairing notes from Kate, William and Sarah below to

get a flavour of the evening.

William Watson-West | Barrow | 2025 | Acrylic and oil bar on canvas | 100 x 160 cm| £3000

Painting notes

“Barrow continues an underlying influence of childhood memories, this time of the

Dorset coast where I spent many happy summers. With the carefree feeling of freedom

walking through summer grasses above coastal hilltops I channeled these emotions in

my brushstrokes.”

Wine pairing

White | La Croisette | Domaine d’Ici La |Altesse | Savoie, FR

A pensive white from the Alpine green hills - this indigenous grape Altesse has a distinct sense of place. Aromas of a distant coastal breeze dance on the palette of summer stone fruits. Nostalgia & terroir in a glass.

Kate Morrison | FRAGMENTS | 2025 | Mixed media on paper and textiles | 30 x 30

cm | £130 each

Painting notes

‘Fragments, A multi-disciplinary collection working with the shards and materials. I paint,

sketch and stitch on the move. Embracing a nomadic existence I find inspiration in urban, coastal and rural landscapes. These works are a Fragment in time linked to a

specific place. Layering textures of pigment, colour and sheer materials these studies

are a fun exploration of the UK’s vast ever changing landscapes.’

Wine pairing

Rosé | Rosé | Walgate | Pinot Meunier | Sussex, GB

An ode to the English countryside and the rugged charm of this winemaker, Ben Walgate. This unfiltered coral coloured saignée nods to summer red fruits, but continues to unfold & unfold into complex layers - salinity, grit, buoyancy.

William Watson-West | Conclusion | 2024 | Acrylic and oil bar on canvas | 80 x 100 cm | £1400

Painting notes

“From my Hope: Answers for Loss project, this was painted over several sittings, going

backwards and forwards, resulting in layers of paint that ultimately acted as a metaphor

for the layers of memory and finding peace and meaning. Hinting at recurring

childhood memories of being outside building dens in the woods behind my parents’

house, this painting seeks to evoke part of that feeling; of being in amongst the

undergrowth and making shelter and finding calm.”

Wine pairing

Red | Colines | Les Fruits | Pinot Noir | South Australia

These biodynamic winemakers’ philosophy is “to do nothing”, mirroring the yearning to sit calmly in this painting. Its essence brings the sense of warmth in a cool space - dampness of the forest floor, green fir & fern, reveals its red fruit with a childlike playfulness.

Kate Morrison | RADICALLY BRINED + FLUSH SAILORS | 2024 | Mixed media on

wood | 45 x 55 cm

Painting notes

‘This collection has a strong connection to the British coastline and the fishing culture

still thriving and working in Newlyn, a Cornish fishing town. I capture the innate brutal

beauty in their working lives, controlled and directed by the sea. These paintings are

enriched by elements of preservation, creating ageing through layers and layers of

materials.’

Wine pairing

Sparkling | Opera | Naboso | Muller-Thurgau, Muscat, Pinot Gris | Slovakia

Selected as an ode to the path artists & winemakers must take in order to produce their medium from the lands. These young winemakers from Eastern Europe had lots of trial & error before they landed on this exemplary traditional method sparkling wine. It reminds us of the spray of the sea and oyster shells with a riptide tension.

William Watson-West | Holding Space | 2025 | Acrylic and oil bar on canvas |100 x

160 cm | £3000

Painting notes

“One of my largest pieces to date, the freedom that working on this scale allowed

resulted in something really powerful. A response to frustrations of daily life, I really let

myself go with this painting, going back to it in several sittings until I was happy. Whilst it

is powerful, there is also an underlying tenderness and sensual element to this painting.

As much as the painting was cathartic to create, I hope that its aestheticism encourages

the viewer to release some of their own angst as well.”

Deep Red | 8:49 | Yo El Rey | Syrah, Grenache | West Cape, ZA

“I The King” - the dichotomy of such a confident declaration that is masking the true intent to convince oneself of greatness. This heartfelt wine is full of raw energy - chewy big red grapes find their darker side with hints of black liquorice and allspice. Strong, but gives a great cuddle.

Kate Morrison | THREE LANDS | 2024 | Mixed media on raw linen | 100 x 100 cm |

£1560

Painting notes

"How I paint is instinctive, I simply just have to! This is how I process life. THREE LANDS is

a collection working with the connection between three different

places in the UK. I’ve been living and travelling between central London, Newlyn in

Cornwall and the Lake District for the last year or so. Gathering inspiration that has

overlayed and merged in my mind creating a range of abstract works that express an

emotional response to the places I’ve stayed and journeys between destinations.These

larger pieces are catalysts for an entire body of work, each a bombardment of

information.’

Wine pairing

R&W blend | Pagaille | Hors le Murs | Cab Franc, Merlot, Sauv B, Muscadelle | Bergerac, FR

This wine was selected to amplify the desirable fusion of calm & chaotic. To mix floral white grapes with the royal red Bordeaux grapes is a tad taboo. Yet by melding intensity with beauty, you often generate something new all together - playful, woke, & unexpected.

William's Corner

Van Gogh at the National Gallery, a London bakery/restaurant and 2024 round-up

William Watson-West, The Fire Inside, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 50 cm

All Things Arty

Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers at the National Gallery

It’s rare that you get to see so many of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings in one place. In fact, the National Gallery’s Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers is described as a once-in-a-century exhibition with paintings gathered from galleries and private collections across the world. The extraordinary Portrait of a Peasant (Patience Escalier) (1888) having never been loaned ever before, it’s unlikely that all these works will be seen together again in this context and so I was lucky to be able to see this now-sold-out show.

I have to confess that I’ve previously struggled with Van Gogh’s work but this exhibition truly opened my eyes. Standing in front of some of these famous paintings I saw them in a new light and there were instances where I was almost overcome with emotion. There is a raw pain and melancholy that nearly all his works seem to evoke. Paintings such as The Park of the Hospital at St Rémy (1889) and Landscape from Saint Rémy (Wheatfield behind Saint-Paul Hospital) (1889) expressed something much deeper than pure aesthetics. Perhaps my current research into German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (more on that later) has subliminally affected me where he describes how great art transcends ordinary perception to reveal deeper truths about existence in subjects and scenes that can seem mundane. Van Gogh’s genius is the way he was able to convey such deep emotions and truths through his storytelling and extraordinary use of colour. (It’s worth noting that you really need to see his paintings in person to get the full impact of their depth and colour - my photographs simply don’t do them justice.)

Van Gogh, The Park of the Hospital at St Rémy, 1889, oil on canvas

The exhibition itself chronicles a lesser known side to Van Gogh, that of “an intellectual artist of lucid intention, deliberation and great ambition” (National Gallery) and it is exceptionally well presented. With examples of his meticulous drawings and works on paper supporting his more famous oils it was clear how much thought went into his work.

I was particularly taken by the bold choice of wall colours which had clearly been chosen with great consideration and which really made the exhibition sing. There is limited text on the walls unlike many other exhibitions (more details can be read in the exhibition booklet), and so the visitor is very much invited to view these paintings for what they are. A few intriguing and thought-provoking quotations are scattered throughout and they are just enough to get you thinking about the context of the work on show.

Seeing these paintings was deeply moving and thought-provoking and despite the clear sadness a lot of the paintings evoke, it was inspiring to witness how powerful painting can be.

Van Gogh, Landscape from Saint Rémy (Wheatfield behind Saint-Paul Hospital), 1889, oil on canvas

Foodie Musings

My fifth foodie musing is a local bakery and restaurant.

Jolene, Newington Green, London

Amongst other foodie things, London has become increasingly known for its artisan bakeries. Jolene is one such bakery that has also gained a repuation as a restaurant, and fortunately for me, only ten minutes away in Newington Green.

First and foremost it is a bakery selling freshly-made and delicious bread and pastries, now with two other locations in Islington and Shoreditch. The coffee is excellent, as are their daily-changing sandwiches; a chicken salad in focaccia a stand-out favourite. I call them treat sandwiches as they are definitely on the pricy side! Their cinnamon roll is a thing of beauty (especially if you’ve got a sweet tooth!) and the chocolate Guinness cake is rich and moreish.

Whilst the building is not the most attractive from the outside (the ground floor of a block of flats), the interior is spacious, warm and inviting with neutral tones and an industrial edge. It’s a great place both for a light lunch or romantic evening meal and the menu changes regularly, with in-house pasta dishes often taking centre stage amongst other small plates of deliciousness.

Fresh, seasonal produce is used as much as possible with often a vegetable-centric theme. A beetroot, citrus and goat’s curd salad peppered with capers really showcased what high quality ingredients can do when treated with care and something as simple as their freshly baked bread and salted butter is worthy of a visit in its own right.

Their minimal-waste-approach to cooking is also admirable, with even the residual wheat husks from their inhouse milled flour being returned to the farms they came from to be incorporated into animal feed.

Jolene is a very popular spot so it’s definitely worth booking, but they do try to keep a few spaces back for walk-ins too if you’re feeling lucky. And if you’re in the area, let me know and you can always tie it in with popping into my studio after!

Inspiration Update/Christmas Round-up

As another year approaches its end I thought I’d look back on my year and give you an idea of what to expect from me in the New year as well.

I’m really pleased with all the lovely feedback I’ve had about my newsletter and you’ll be pleased to hear that I aim to continue this format next year.

It’s taken me a while, but this year I have really settled into my London studio. I’ve produced what I consider some of my most successful work to date and finally feel more comfortable working on a larger scale, something I’ve been progressing towards for a long time.

Next year is going to be a big year for me as aside from hosting more Art + Wine events in some exciting new locations and continuing to push my painting in new directions, I am also getting married in May!

There is lots to plan and it looks set to be a busy but exciting year ahead. 

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Recent Work

I’ve had to postpone the official online launch of my latest collection, Remedies for Despair, but I’ve uploaded a few pieces to my website and there are a couple featured above; I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I've also been busy working on an exciting project with a new gallery called Blank Studio Gallery. I previously mentioned the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, and this project is inspired by his writings on will and aesthetics. It's been fascinating for me to have this new point of reference and I look forward to showing you the finished work early next year.

Whilst my official cut-off for Christmas deliveries has now passed, digital versions of my Painting Answers can still be ordered online as a unique and exciting last minute present.

"Painting Answers"

Buy Now

Stay Up to Date

If you've enjoyed reading my newsletter please do forward it on to anyone who might be interested.

Thank you to all my readers and collectors for your continued support; I am sending you every good wish for Christmas and the New Year.

Very best wishes,

William