Dr Jane Watt

Jane teaches across all levels of Fine Art and leads the following modules:

Drawing: representing and recording

Professional Engagement

Degree Project

She is a primary PhD supervisor in the fields of public and engaged art practice, site-specific and installation in practice-based and case study research

Jane’s research focuses on how artists negotiate with, and involve, people and place. She examines practical, social, heritage, environmental and well-being issues and how these influence the creative process of the artist and the community in which she works.  

Recent projects include co-investigator with artist Sara Heywood in a knowledge exchange project Mulberry – Tree of Plenty in collaboration with Dr David Chau, Associate Professor in Biomaterials and Allied Subjects at the Eastman Dental Institute, UCL. The project is commissioned as part of Trellis: a UCL Culture and UCL East programme and funded by EPSRC.

She is currently developing a cross-disciplinary research group Blast Radius with Susan Barnet to bring together artists, researchers and specialists in art, heritage and environmental science to share research and practice on contemporary sites through the lens of wildlife, ecology digital and history/heritage research. The project employs active field research, creative collaboration and exploration of archival materials create dialogues and presentations in art practice to stimulate new ways of examining and understanding the landscape around us.  

Watt and Barnet were commissioned by British Art Network’s (BAN) Landscape Research Group to create a moving image essay on coastal erosion. The project was supported by Tate and Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, as well as Orford Ness National Nature Reserve (National Trust). 

Publications, exhibition catalogues and entries

Watt, Jane The Cabinet of Curiosities (Brighton: LMNOP Books, 2015) ISBN 9780956956361[monograph 110 pages]

Watt, Jane East to East: from Aldeburgh Beach to Landguard Point (Ipswich: UCS, 2013) [exhibition catalogue 28 pages]

Watt, Jane, Open Space: conversations on people, place and art (Chelmsford: Essex County Council, 2010) [monograph 35 pages.]

Bannerman, C., Sofaer, J. and Watt, J. (eds.) Navigating the Unknown: the creative process in contemporary performing arts London: Middlesex University Press, 2006), ISBN 1904750559 [co-edited 33%, 269 pages.]

Solo Exhibitions (selected)

Still on the Beach Aldeburgh Beach Lookout, Aldeburgh (2017)

The Cabinet of Curiosities Waterfront Gallery, Ipswich (2015)        

A Portable Collection The View Tube, London (2015)

Outside In, Eleven Spitalfields, London (2008)

Group Exhibitions (Selected)

HERE, The Art Station, Saxmundham (2021) 

Crown Letter international online project (2020) 

Lockdown and Light co-curator international online project (2020) 

Alive in the Universe, Palazzo Pesaro, Venice (2019)

Aller Retour, Fort de Tourneville, Le Havre, France (2019)

Landscape and Light II, Letheringham, Suffolk (2018)

Ice Carnival The Art Station Saxmunham (2017)

Parasol, Appel d’Air 2 Festival, Arras, France (2016)

Landscape and Light, Letheringham, Suffolk (2016)

Experimental Village Cyprus College of Art, Paphos (2015)

Art Moves, Queen Elizabeth Park, London (2014)

East to East: from Aldeburgh Beach to Landguard Point Waterfront Gallery (2013)

Art Geo Köln Schlosspark-Köln, Stammheim, Cologne (2009)

Sunbeams giving the air a kiss: Birds in contemporary art, Millais Gallery, Southampton (2008)

Public Art Commissions (selected)

Mulberry – Tree of Plenty a collaborative cross-disciplinary project by artists Sara Heywood & Jane Watt and Dr David Chau, Associate Professor in Biomaterials and Allied Subjects at the Eastman Dental Institute, UCL. Commissioned as part of Trellis: a UCL Culture and UCL East programme and funded by EPSRC.  (2020-21)

Reflections on Home Alton Estate Artist in Residence in collaboration with Sara Heywood, to create a series of site-specific work as part of the Alton Estate Regeneration Programme commissioned by Artscape, with Redrow and Wandsworth Council (2017-19)

Loom to the Moon permanent artwork commission for John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. Source of funding: John Radcliffe Hospital Charitable Funds, Oxford (2016-2019)

The Cabinet of Curiosities Darwin Green Artist in Residence series of temporary site-specific works. Source of funding: Artscape Management/Barratt’s (2013-15)

Hand in Hand temporary installation on Pershore Road, Birmingham part of Love Stirchley More Festival. Source of funding: Place Prospectors/Arts Council England (ACE). (2012-13)

Trip the light fantastic temporary large scale light installation in Archway, north London. Source of funding AIR (Archway Investigations and Responses) at Byam Shaw School of Art and Islington Borough Council, with ACE and Transport for London (2008-2010)

Genius Loci Open Space Programme Curator. Source of funding: Essex County Council and Commissions East (2007-2009)