The Book that Tock'd
Grant Watt
Grant Watt trained as a scenic artist at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), before venturing into undertaking specially commissioned, private and public work, including portraiture, murals and abstract works.
In this symbolic work using acrylic and oil on canvas, Grant signifies the mythology of Elizabeth Dunbar, whose legendary beauty was alluded to in Richard Holland's c.1450 poem The Buke of Howlat, in which he refers to her as "The Dove of Dunbar".
“Thus for ane Dow of Dunbar drew I this Dyte, Dowit with ane Dowglass, and boith war thei dowis”
The poem itself is a comic allegory in which all the characters are birds with human attributes, some more complementary than others.