Avril Watson-Stewart

Died: February 6, 2016

AVRIL Watson-Stewart, who has died aged 89, was an artist and calligrapher who, as Avril Gibb, was well known in Glasgow from the 1950s onwards. Her speciality was beautiful and elaborate lettering but she was involved in creating the design features on many buildings across the city, not least the glass panels in St Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Calton and Sir Charles Bromeo Church, Kelvinside, and also a plaque in the Tom Honeyman Garden near Kelvingrove.

Born in Glasgow, she was an only child of a loving family who were well known in the city where her father owned a pianoforte business in Cambridge Street. She attended Glasgow High School for Girls where her interest in art was encouraged and she often shared memories of a happy childhood, first in Glasgow and later at Beach House, Skelmorlie.

In 1947 she began four years of study at Glasgow School of Art, where she was a diligent student. Although pretty and popular, she was unusual in that as well as enjoying the social life as a student she applied herself to her study – perhaps in notable contrast to some of her contemporaries – and she was always well-groomed, polite and elegant. Those attributes, combined with a sharp wit and ready sense of humour were evident right to the end despite the mental and physical decline of her later years.

While most others studied drawing and painting at Art School, her two passions were calligraphy and medieval manuscripts and it was these that became her life’s work and after graduation in 1951 she became well known as a designer and calligrapher.

She worked closely with the Glasgow architect Jack Coia and an article in The Glasgow Herald of October 1, 1953 entitled Mistress of Lettering reveals that she was responsible for five lengthy illuminated addresses which were presented during the Queen’s State Visit to Scotland after her Coronation.

The report goes on to list Avril Gibb's various achievements and says "Coronation year has presented a rare opportunity to a young Glasgow artist and she acquitted herself so worthily that it brought her resounding success. Avril had the satisfaction of knowing that when the Secretary of State for Scotland presented the Loyal Address the Queen remarked upon its artistic merit." That particular address is now in the archives of Windsor Castle.

Her other projects included the design and lettering of various attractive features in buildings and memorials which were being refurbished or established throughout Glasgow in the 1960s and 70s.

Nearer home, she is credited in 1984 with etching the glass screen across McTaggart Memorial Chapel in Largs Parish Church. She also designed a plaque at Wemyss Bay railway station.

In the 1960s, she spent some time living and working in New York, where she formed many enduring friendships and there were several reunions in later years.

Perhaps it was the failing health of her parents that brought her back to Skelmorlie where she cared for both of them until their deaths. During that time she seems to have established what amounted to a bird rescue centre at Beach House. She had a great love for birds, large or small, but particularly owls. Photographs show her at Beach House with her pet owl on her shoulder and she was particularly proud when her drawing of an owl with ‘wing in sling’ was adopted as their logo by Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre at Beith.

She also shared her knowledge of birds - for example how to care for injured or orphaned fledglings, and in The Glasgow Herald in 1973 passed her advice on to readers.

She enjoyed lively conversation and found it easy to engage with people in any situation. As well as formal lecturing on her work, she gave entertaining talks about her travels, often for the benefit of local organisations.

After the deaths of her parents and following her marriage to Sir James Watson-Stewart in September 1980 (in Largs Episcopal Church) she and her husband lived in Kilcreggan but the couple maintained their connections along the coast and were closely involved with the founding of Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock.

In 1989 she returned to Wemyss Bay as a widow. Although it must have been quite a transition for her to move to a flat after life in spacious houses, she soon integrated to the community at Undercliff Court. She continued to create beautiful pieces of privately commissioned work and embarked on lecture tours, sharing her skills and knowledge with calligraphy groups at home and abroad.

Many people at the remembrance service will remember her from those years during which she was very proud to be patron of Largs Variations choir and audiences greatly enjoyed her entertaining introductions to their performances in Largs.

Sadly, although she was reluctant to leave Wemyss Bay, a fall which led to a spell of being housebound in a second floor flat prompted her move to Largs about ten years ago. This began a new chapter in her life and, until health problems made it necessary for her to move into care, she became quite accustomed to living close to amenities and made many new friendships in the town.

She spent her final years in the excellent care of Moorburn Manor Nursing Home where, although suffering from dementia, she retained her innate courtesy and established a happy rapport with the care team.

In her last years, the fragility of her appearance belied the fact that Avril Watson-Stewart was a feisty individual who made the most of her creative talents.