The Watt Institution

24/10/2026

Evocative image of what life was like at the turn of the twentieth century in Black Bull Close, Port Glasgow.

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22/10/2026

For today’s we have 'Kentucky Sam' by William Hunter (1890-1967).

Who ‘Kentucky Sam’ was or when and where this work was painted, we do not know and is part of the ongoing research into our collections.

Hunter was born and lived in Glasgow and was a painter mainly in oil who, studied at the School of Art under Fra Newbery and Maurice Greiffenhagen.

With funding from the Keppie Scholarship between 1913 and 1914 he was able to study in Brussels under Paul Artôt (1875-1858), the noted Belgium portrait painter, who had been Professor of Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art between 1902-1912.
His work was regularly shown at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Scottish Academy and the Paris Salon.

The Glasgow Corporation were regular buyers of his work.

This work forms part of our Caird Collection. A selection of work from which can be seen in the Watt Hall as part of our commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the museum.
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21/10/2026

Industrial heritage, panoramic views & vibrant culture: 1 day in Greenock ⚓🌊🏛️

Rich in maritime history and coastal soul, Greenock makes for a fantastic Scottish day out. Swipe through to see how to make the most of 24 hours.

👇 What’s your favourite hidden spot in Greenock?

21/10/2026

The Hougomont was a four masted steel barque built by Scotts in 1897 for the Hougomont Sailing Ship Company.

In 1924 she was bought by a Finish shipping company and used for transporting goods and then as a training ship for young sailors.

She was damaged in a storm in the Southern Ocean in 1932 and although her crew managed to sail her to Adelaide, Australia, it was decided it would cost too much to repair her and she was sunk as a breakwater in Stenhouse Bay, South Australia in 1933.

She was named after the farmhouse that was part of Wellington’s defensive line at the Battle of Waterloo, 1815.

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15/10/2026

For today’s Art UK theme of ‘Contemporary Portraiture’ from our collection we have chosen ‘Lovers’ by the Greenock artist Douglas Thomson (1955-2022).
Douglas studied at the Glasgow School of Art before later studying at, and working for, the prestigious Patrick Allan-Fraser School of Art, Hospitalfield, Arbroath. During his long career he exhibited across the UK and Europe.
The work can be seen as part of our recent redisplay of works from our art collection.
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01/10/2026

The Watt Institution will start welcoming back visitors from 30th September. The Watt Institution has been closed for several months to allow for the installation of a new lift to improve accessibility to upper levels for wheelchairs, prams, and people with mobility issues and for other upgrades.

The building is being reopened in phases starting with the Watt Hall, Watt Library, Art Gallery and Egypt Gallery.

Two new art exhibitions will display rarely seen work by a number of famous Scottish painters including Scottish Colourists F.C.B Cadell and Samuel John Peploe alongside others by Glasgow Boy E.A. Hornel and Anne Redpath.

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01/10/2026

For today’s Art UK and the theme ‘Autumn’ we’ve selected from our new exhibition ‘Glen Urquhart’ by Joseph Morris Henderson, RSA (1836-1936).

Henderson was the youngest son of the artist Joseph Henderson RSW. His two elder brothers were also artists. He studied at Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Art and specialised in land and seascapes.

He was closely linked to both the Glasgow Art Club and the Paisley Art Institute and was President of the Scottish Artists Benevolent Association for several years. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1928 and an Academician in 1935.

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18/09/2026

For today’s Art UK and the theme ‘Rural’ we’ve selected Highland Sheep Shearers' by Alice Edith Ross (1863-1954)
Alice was a painter and book illustrator born in Glasgow who spent most of her working life in Edinburgh. Her work reflected traditional rural scenes and pastimes with the years between 1886-1937 being her most productive.

This worked was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts in both 1928 and 1934. Initially as ‘Perthshire Sheep Shearers’ and then ‘Highland Sheep Shearer’, the title we know it as.

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02/09/2026

01/09/2026

🔎 A Sherlock Holmes connection in our collection! 🕵️‍♂️🐋

What does a whaling harpoon from our collection have to do with literature’s most famous detective?

In 1880, Arthur Conan Doyle served as ship’s surgeon aboard the Arctic whaling ship Hope — and we have a harpoon from the vessel in our collection.

Doyle’s experiences on his Arctic voyage later found their way into his writing, including “The Adventure of Black Peter,” one of Sherlock Holmes’ cases, in which a murder is committed using a whaling harpoon!

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