Cherries/Forbidden Fruit/Pear in a Landscape

Watt's work is firmly ensconced in the figurative tradition that has been a constant strand of British art in the 20th century. She is quick to acknowledge the example of Lucian Freud, Gwen John and her fellow Scot, James Cowie. Like these artists, Watt has developed a personal and unique style which can seem at odds with current trends. Her vision is essentially light-hearted and gentle. Most of her characters have her own features and her figure compositions frequently contain multiples of herself. She enjoys making eclectic use of artistic sources and borrows poses and iconography and mixes metaphors to create her own personal mythology. In this triptych, Venus, Eve and the Virgin are portrayed yet, on another level, one can read three images of Alison. The three panels also provide an analysis of the female archetype.