As an artist Verity Watkins has won a respectable place among the sought-after artists in Qatar. Besides her paintings being in demand by private collectors, Verity’s work adorns the walls of some of the schools and nurseries in Doha, and more recently has been scheduled to be included in some of the paediatric units of Hamad General Hospital. She also enjoys teaching and sharing her skills with those looking to work on their artistic abilities.
In her free time, Verity paints and manages the ‘Watkins Artwork’, a joint venture with her husband — Stephen, also an artist. Over the last five years they’ve sold over 300 original paintings and hundreds of prints. Verity and Stephen have been participating in the annual exhibitions conducted by the International Artists Doha (a group of around 20 artists from across the world, working together and producing group exhibitions); they have also been part of a couple of group exhibitions at the Corridor, Grand Hyatt Doha.
Besides art, Verity has a serious travel bug that has seen her travelling extensively across several countries and continents. “I’ve brought elements of my personal experiences from these amazing countries into my own artwork,” she says in a freewheeling chat with Community. Excerpts:
Tell us about your work in Qatar
I moved to Doha in January 2009 with my husband and three daughters. I’ve always had a passion for art and love all kinds of artwork; I’ve studied art and design and hold an honours degree in textile design.
Over the past year I’ve been working on murals for schools and nurseries, and have done a collaborative project with HMC and UCL-Qatar. This project was to design and deliver a series of art workshops to the paediatric patients in Hamad General Hospital and use their artwork to create an installation for two paediatric units and the trauma unit.
Most of my recent work includes animal portraits. Since moving to the Middle East my work has been influenced by the landscape and colours here. I have also produced a large number of camel portraits and just love photographing them at camel races. I find they have such interesting faces full of character, and are really quite comical with their expressions. I’m intrigued by them. I have more recently completed some paintings with Arabian horses as the subject.
I enjoy working as a community art lecturer at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU-Qatar) designing and delivering classes for six to 12-year-olds. I also teach art classes to adults in small groups, at home.
What got you interested in art?
I’ve shown a flair for creativity and art from a very young age. I won my first local art competition when I was four years old, back in the UK. I had great art teachers at school who influenced my decision to pursue art as a career.
Share with us some of your artistic accomplishments.
Every piece I complete is important, as time and energy is spent creating it. By far my biggest personal achievement would be my collaborative project carried out with HMC and UCL-Qatar titled ‘A journey through Arabia’. I designed and delivered workshops with the patients of some of the paediatric units. From those workshops I produced over 40 different compositions, which were to be printed onto acrylic pieces to decorate the camel and falcon units. I directly used the children’s imagery on my own painted backgrounds and photographed them. Each unit had its own colour scheme. As a result, it appears as if the falcons are flying, as shadows were created by the collaged pieces.
It was the most rewarding and humbling work I’ve done to date and by far my biggest personal achievement when it comes to artwork. The time frame was tight with only 1 month to complete all the designs.
This work is very important to me because of the happiness it can bring to the children seeing it in a time of need and also the fact that some long-term patients will see their work up on the walls of the hospital, and feel proud of themselves too.
There will be an official opening of the artworks sometime in September.
Which is your favourite piece of work?
Last year I took an oil painting portrait class with Louise Bird and Nibby Hamadi at the Art Academy. It was my first time using oil paint, as I mainly work in acrylic. I chose to work on my father’s portrait. I find portraits of people much harder than animals and the outcome was not a perfect piece, but because I knew the subject so well I loved doing it. It was a great personal achievement. It now hangs in my father’s study in the UK. He loves it, which is all that matters.
It is my favourite piece not because of the outcome but because of what he means to me and how personal it was to produce. However, I found oil paints frustrating due to the drying time. I like to work with lots of texture and layer my paint, which acrylic allows you to do more quickly.
Which is your favourite medium?
Throughout my art career I have used clay, wire, paint, collage and even glass. But I still love to paint in acrylic. It is also the most accessible medium here in Doha as I do not own my own kiln to fire clay and glasswork. I would love to develop my 3D work in the future.
What kind of art do you find most challenging?
Creating abstract artwork by commission, as trying to interpret a client’s vision through your own, is challenging.
Where do you draw your inspirations from?
My inspirations tend to come from my current surroundings and my mood. The colour palettes that I choose for each piece very much depends on how I feel.
What are your other hobbies and interests?
I enjoy teaching adults at home as most of my students are women who enjoyed art while in school but are pursuing different fields now. The work they have produced is remarkable. I have many returning students each term. Each class only has four students so it is a friendly group with guidance as needed. The next set of classes will start in October.
I also enjoy reading and building Lego with my daughters!
Who is your hero?
My parents! My father had a stroke when he was 49 and my mum has been caring for him for over 20 years now. They have faced so many physical, mental and health challenges over the years, but have stayed strong throughout. Although my father was left physically disabled at such a young age, with determination he returned to work; he flies to Doha to see us at least once a year.
Share with us your dream …
I want my children to grow up and become what they dream to be. At the moment my six-year-old daughter wants to be an artist and my 9-year-old — a dancer. I want them to believe in themselves and love what they do, and have no regrets.
How would you describe your life right now?
I lead a very happy life. I have my family around me and my work is flexible so I can be there for my daughters when they need me.
Lessons learnt from life:
To never have any regrets and to trust your own instinct. Be kind and thankful for what you have.
For those interested in details:
https://www.facebook.com/WatkinsArtwork/
https://www.facebook.com/WatkinsArtClasses/
http://www.veritywatkins.co.uk
ENGROSSED: Artist Verity Watkins works on a painting. She manages the Watkins Artwork, a joint venture with her husband Stephen, also an artist. Photo by Jacinthe Lamontagne-Lecomte
