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April in Thurso [April, Peacock Printmakers Calendar, 1976]

Publisher: Peacock PrintmakersPrintmaker, editioning: Watson, Arthur, PPRSA RSA · b. 1951

Invited by the board of Peacock Printmakers in Aberdeen to produce the image for February in the Peacock Calendar Suite, 1976.

The artists selected to collaborate were a mixture of established and emerging printmakers and painters with little or no previous printmaking experience. For the established printmakers the hope was that they would experiment with a medium outwith that which they normally adopted.

The inspiration for this work came from the view from a house in Thurso. Watson and the Irish folk band The Fureys had been invited to perform at the Thurso Folk Festival. They had been invited for dinner before their gig by one of the organisers. This was the view from the dining room, complete with rainbow.

Watson graduated in Design from Gray’s (studying under George Mackie and Malcolm McCoig, two highly respected tutors). He was one of only two students from his graduating year who did not go on to take a teaching qualification from the College of Education.

Alongside Ian Fleming, Watson was a driving force in the establishment of Peacock Printmakers. He contributed significantly to its subsequent success, serving as both Master Printer and Director for many years. Amongst his many talents, Watson is also an accomplished folksinger.

Arthur Watson editioned his own print for the suite. See notes provided by Watson on 30 Oct 2025 in record images.

The first major collaboration between the Printmakers and such a large number of artists



Additional details

  • Object data

    Date1976
    Accession2020.0117.4
    TypePrint Screenprint
    MaterialsSupport paper
    Medium Ink
    Dimensions Image
    25.5cm x 25.5cm
    Support
    40.5cm x 40.5cm
    AcquisitionGift The family of the late Willie Rodger RSA RGI DUniv (February 7th, 2020)
  • Exhibitions

    No exhibition data for this record.