Veronica Watson is a founder member of Blue Room and has created work at Bluecoat since 2007. Watson has many years experience as a self-advocate, speaking out for the rights of learning disabled people. Watson has presented at large arts industry conferences across the UK advocating for greater acceptance and celebration of learning disabled artists.
Watson creates accurate observational drawings of the people and places around her.
"I am interested in doing people’s portraits. I want to catch the faces and expressions, happy or sad. I use pencil on paper and smudge the shadows. When I draw people I get to know them, even if I have never met them before."
Watson took part in the Studio Me pilot in 2018 culminating in an exhibition at Bluecoat under the same name. Watson presented the many and varied faces of the artists, staff and volunteers she encounters at the arts centre. Her work as an artist and self-advocate has led to creative collaborations with artists including Tanya Raabe-Webber, Layla Bacayo and Sarah McEwan. In September 2019, Watson was invited to take part in a summit of artists from supported studios across Europe at Project Ability in Glasgow.
Watson continues to take part in Blue Room’s artist development project Studio Me. Through this she isdeveloping her drawing and painting skills along with facilitating sessions with other Blue Room artists.
‘I like to share my skills with others. I hope to inspire others and get them into art. Art has made me feel more confident. I reach out more to people- I’m more social.’
Recently Watson took part in Output’s postal exhibition Studio Me and You, exhibited at Cass Art and delivered a workshop at Imaginate; a fundraiser for Ron’s Place at Future Yard, Birkenhead.
Exhibitions
Yield, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales, Australia September 2019
New Ways, PARTicipate Art Space, Shrewsbury, UK, April 2019
Studio Me, Bluecoat, Liverpool, UK, November - March 2018
Blue Room at Ten, Bluecoat, Liverpool, UK, December - March 2018
Awards and commissions
Artist Development Grant, DaDaFest, June 2019
Yield, Commission, CAD Factory, New South Wales, Australia, May 2019
Studio Me, Granada Foundation, August 2018
Studio Me, Cass Art, Liverpool, UK - October 2022
