Thursday 18 September 2025, 7.00 pm
Talk by Willie Watt
Dundee Civic Trust restarts its popular series of winter evening talks on Thursday 18 September, when local architect Willie Watt will give us an illustrated talk based on his own sketch books entitled Drawing on the Vernacular – Orkney’s North Isles.
Willie led Nicoll Russell Studios’ analysis of vernacular buildings in Sanday, Stronsay, Shapinsay and Westray via sequential sketches supported by interactive sketching workshops which attracted locals, lay people, professional artists, archaeologists and architects. The process entailed looking at and considering the buildings around them slowly and considering the sense of place, change, regeneration, appropriateness, resilience, inappropriateness, heritage and value. These in turn are promoting the islands and furthering their interpretation.
This highly visual talk based on Willie’s delightful sketches explores those places, reflects upon the value of the vernacular and lessons learned.
The talk will take place in Dundee Art Society’s Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00 pm (19:00). Guests are always welcome and there will be the opportunity to chat over a glass of wine afterwards.