Blog Post

Watson's Windows

Anna Hall and Kate Downes • 6 November 2020

See anything you like...? Find out what makes our windows so special

For an art gallery, windows are an important bridge to the rest of the world... especially in a busy city with the world passing by. You might not regularly head out into the streets of Edinburgh thinking of how much you'd love to see some art on the way to the pharmacy or or post office — but a great artwork can make any day better.

And when you can see the artwork right there in a window, the street becomes its own outdoor gallery, available to everybody day or night.

Situated on a corner at a busy intersection, Watson is in a very special position when it comes to our windows. Hundreds of people pass us by every day: driving down Queen street, walking to work, or heading to the city centre. That one minute waiting at the red light or pedestrian crossing can turn into the perfect moment to soak up some art!

Our window displays change every week, not just to showcase our new arrivals, but to provide some fantastic art for all passersby. We have so many visitors who tell us that our windows are the highlight of their daily commute!

We have also had many visitors coming in to ask about artworks that they spotted in our windows, sometimes a few weeks before they manage to come in. “I saw it as I passed by and I couldn’t stop thinking about it…”

We’ve also had people who spotted an artwork while at the traffic lights, and then pull over at the next opportunity to call us immediately!

The problem with spying something as you pass by, of course, that if you wait too long, the artwork might be gone! Especially if it’s been in the windows where anyone can spot it…

To help solve this problem (and to help those who are trying to remember which exact artwork they saw in our ever-changing windows!) we’re launching a new feature on our website and social media, called Watson Windows.

Every week, we’ll be archiving our window displays with the names of the artists, so you can find that special artwork that caught your eye... and we'd love it if you gave us a call to find out more!

Keep up with the Windowspage on our website or follow the hashtag #watsonwindows on our social media platforms ( instagram , twitter and facebook ) to see what’s been featured recently!

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