Trustees of the David Waterson Trust are pleased to announce that their first AGM is to be held in the Northern Hotel Brechin on Saturday 30 Oct 2010 at 2.30 pm

The past twelve months have been both exciting and rewarding with several email contacts from across the globe offering further information, and in some cases, images of David Waterson’s earlier works

The web site continues to attract huge numbers of visitors from many parts of the world, details of which will be given at the AGM; anyone wishing to hear more of the work of the trust or wants to become a member are also invited to attend.

Trustees of the DWT were recently treated to a private view of the entire David Waterson Memorial Collection hanging in the upper floor of the newly refurbished Old Town House Museum and Gallery together with the remaining framed works of DW held by Angus Council

It was a bonus to be given a further CD from John Johnston of Angus Council of the remainder of this collection which will be uploaded to this web site in a few weeks time under AC Collection

The account of Mrs Waterson’s presentation speech is noted within the narrative listings and given the sentiments expressed by this talented lady when handing over this extremely generous Memorial Collection it was with quiet satisfaction that we hailed this part of the 50 years controversy now at an end!

Anyone visiting Brechin will be able to see this unique collection from 1^st September and look forward to further discussions with Norman Atkinson and John Johnston of AC with a view to hosting further exhibitions of private collections throughout the Cultural Olympiad

The DWT continue to seek out the several other works by David Waterson and would appreciate any further information in this regard

David Waterson had far-reaching talents as would also appear to be the case of this recently launched web site having registered 930 visitors from UK, Netherlands, India, Australia, Canada and the USA, with hits from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Illinois, West Virginia, Georgia, Maryland and Tennessee

Browsing through a book store in a Tangers outlet in Michigan and Schuler’s Books in Lansing and East Lansing, I came across a book “The Queen Mother – the Official Biography” by William Shawcross and eager to find out if the book contained any works by David Waterson I scanned its pages where I found a reference to the Wedding Gift Book from the people of Angus to the Queen Mother painted by “renowned artist David Waterson”

I was able to direct the excited staff to this web site and the images taken from the wedding gift book by kind permission of the Earl of Strathmore.

Emails of new images continue to arrive, the latest from Wiltshire of a photograph taken by DW of writer Alex Phillips taken at the Mary Acre Brechin where Mr Phillips used to live, with an accompanying etching taken from the photo; both have been purchased on behalf of DWT and will soon be added to the Trust’s collection.

We continue to seek out images of the many works painted by DW during the 12 months he stayed in Sweden – time and patience will reap the rewards!

Today, only 3 weeks after the launch of the web site, sees a massive addition to this virtual exhibition. 10 sketch books containing over 570 images providing further compelling evidence of the genius that was Waterson.

Latest statistics – 636 visits, 21,710 page views from UK, USA, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands – the sketches speak for themselves!

It is very obvious from all that has been written about David Waterson that DW was held in high regard by high society and judging by the quantity and quality of the sketches, similarly so with countless others from all walks of life

Click on Angus Council Collection for sketch books

Since launching the web site one week ago today the site has received 220 individual hits, six thousand eight hundred and fifty page-views and is now just three slots away from making front page of google

These are just a few of the ‘vital statistics’ available however the most pleasing for me is the indisputable fact that the David Waterson Memorial Collection has received by far the most hits

The late Councillor George Allan will not have realised the immense importance of the research he did way back in 1984 that prompted  ex Provost Sandy Buchan to comment “perhaps a start could be made to remind Brechiners what their collection looks like!”

Mrs Waterson who presented the collection in the 1950’s had visions of the collection having to be stored in caves to avoid nuclear fall-out and will not have had the slightest notion that the images from her personally chosen collection would at some point wing around the world without hindrance from volcanic fallout unless of course one considers the dross of sporadic verbal dustings that spewed from certain public officials who should have known better.

A further 580 images of DW’s works will be uploaded during next month

The David Waterson web site was launched on 12 April 2010, the fifty-sixth anniversary of his death; a million thanks to the Trustees for their sterling effort throughout these past 18 months and to Ubique Design for their expert ‘design and construct’ service.

The huge effort and co-operation shown by gallery staff throughout the entire UK has been heart-warming and we rely on their continued help in searching for “lost” art-works and images of other art-works detailed under “Further Artwork Research”

One gallery official remarked that it was about time something was done to raise the profile of this great artist; “Carpe diem” “seize the moment” a phrase remembered from Latin school days is perhaps an apt expression to sum up.

David Waterson’s prolific talents have lain mouse-like for decades; the lion has started to roar and we embrace the moment with enthusiastic anticipation

Transcribing David Waterson’s 550 poems written in free hand and in pencil would be a daunting task for anyone; DWT have to acknowledge the magnificent effort of Freida Haggart whose gusto, enthusiasm, willing attitude and a stickler for thoroughness is such that more than half of this unique collection have been transcribed to typed copy ready for further re-evaluation.

The poems noted under “narrative listings” are an early glimpse of some of David Waterson’s poetic mastery

David Waterson has been dead for 55 years but his legacy is such that the DWT was able to present in Brechin’s Northen Hotel, 800 of 1600 of his works identified so far, a springboard, prior to the launch of our web site early next year, when millions more will be able to peruse this man’s exciting, varied and prolific talent

Trustee Gwen Wood read two of DW’s poems that received spontaneous applause and later in the evening Tibby’s story books, an illustrated humorous version of poetry and prose written together with his young and close family friend, had everyone roaring with laughter

The David Waterson trust is indebted to the Northern Hotel for free use of their banqueting suite and to Robert Ritchie of Montrose for free use of a large TV to show the images.