THE final exhibition to be held at Watchet’s Lynda Cotton Gallery will be a heartfelt tribute to its founder and owner Nick Cotton, a gifted artist and a true son of the town he had loved for over 60 years, and who died suddenly in December 2023 at the age of 74.
Organised by his family, the exhibition, open for a week from Saturday, April 26 to May 2, contains a range of oils-paintings, water-colours, sketches and prints, many seen in public for the first time, and which reflect his passion for every aspect of Watchet life from its history and architecture to its thousand-year links with the sea and ships.
“Dad gave his life to Watchet and its people. This little town was his whole world,” his daughter, Jennie Jukes, said this week.
“We spent years telling Dad that he should have a retrospective exhibition at the gallery but he never felt confident enough to display his own work on the walls.
“But it seems fitting that the final exhibition at the gallery should be for him to share his incredible talent, especially showing pieces that have been tucked away in sketchbooks and which people won’t have seen before.”
Hundreds paid tribute to Nick Cotton on his death, remembering him as the man who kept Watchet’s past alive with meticulous chronicling of the town’s history, as an accomplished artist and as an art and antiques expert who built an international reputation for the Swain Street gallery he ran for over 40 years.
The gallery, which will close permanently after Nick’s exhibition, was a first port of call for many serious collectors and housed the celebrated collection of paintings by the late Hans Schwarz, who had moved to Somerset and became Nick’s friend and mentor. Pictures by Schwarz and the late Roger Large, an abstract artist, are also included in the exhibition.
The gallery hosted many important collections and exhibitions including the work of Watchet’s iconic marine artist Captain Thomas Chidgey and pioneer Victorian photographer James Date.
For the past two summers, Nick’s smaller Mayfly Studio gallery in Swain Street was thrown open for a season of free exhibitions by local artists. “However busy he was, Nick always made time to encourage other artists and creators,” said Rob Hutchings, former Watchet Conservation Society chair and close friend.
“The Mayfly became a community hub and gave talented people a chance to show what they could do - a chance many had never previously had. It’s important that Nick’s work is carried on, although we don’t have his depth of knowledge or expertise in so many areas.
“He was also a superb draughtsman and produced countless exquisite sketches and line drawings to illustrate his articles and research.
“We all miss a good friend who was the beating heart of Watchet for so many years.”
Nick regularly exhibited oil paintings of local landscapes at the annual Somerset Art Weeks and began painting and drawing as a schoolboy.
Born in Gloucestershire, near Berkeley Castle, he arrived in Watchet as a 12-year-old in 1961 and attended Danesfield School before joining his parents’ antique business “Grandma’s Attic” in Swain Street.
Roo Bentley, a close friend, said: “Nick instantly immersed himself in the history and culture of his ‘forever home’ taking great pride in learning all he could of this fascinating location.
“His interest in not just the history but the architecture, the archaeology, the evolution and even the wildlife of his new home was boundless."
Jennie Jukes added: “I have been asked many times if we had any of my dad’s artwork for sale, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to put together this exhibition to give people the opportunity to enjoy his creative talent for years to come.
“I am making sure that the pieces for sale are accessible to all budgets. Many of the paintings are of local interest and characters with a real focus on the harbour and its surroundings.
“He was completely self-taught with no formal training and some of his best work was produced as he sketched away at the kitchen table while we chatted over a cup of tea.”
The Lynda Cotton Gallery exhibition will be open from 11am to 3pm.