In Studio with May Watson : A new sense of realism in London’s art scene.

May Watson creates art with humour and boldness, the type of pieces you see and smile in self reflection. Her work is a reminder of everything you are probably meant to do, meant to say and definitely meant to tidy up after. Mixing realism with sarcasm, May creates a visual diary of modern life that's precise in execution and delightfully blunt in tone. She paints what everyone is thinking - like she’s eavesdropping on your inner monologue - and then sells it back to you to be exhibited in your home. Watson creates work that captures everyday absurdities, but witha straight face and a steady hand.

I asked May about her strangest experience with a customer. She explained a time when she had an open studio day and a lady came in gushing over how much she loved May’s work. The lady wanted to buy something immediately and went to fetch her husband. As he walked in and saw May’s artwork, he turned to his wife and repeated the words, “Oh no, no, no, no”, all while May stood there. It was an awkward, hilarious, but a strangely polite moment; a perfect anecdote for May’s work.

There’s something deeply British about May’s art that I think draws people in. Amongst the vibrant illustrations, there’s commentary on the bizarre rituals of daily life and the expectations we place on ourselves in today’s society. The deadpan approach gives her work a staying power, especially when somewhat hard truths are delivered with a healthy dose of wit and charm. May achieves a perfect balance mixing humour with a vibrant colour palette to create pieces that truly never goes out of fashion. You might laugh at first, and then look again and feel slightly exposed because it’s as if you’re being pointed at through the canvas. It’s observational, but it’s not cold as there’s so much affection in the mockery.

She didn’t arrive in the art world by following the map. With a degree in writing comedy, her visual instincts were always about timing and tone.“It is a very fake-it-til-you-make-it.” That ethos still clings to her practice in the best way - her work never pretends to be anything it’s not.It’s smart without being smug, polished but not precious, and funny because it’s true.And whilst her tone is light, her own standards are set at sharpness. For May, authenticity means everything. Even if someone close to her mentions an idea, she won’t use it if it doesn't come out of her own head. Whether that’s a partner, a sibling or a well-meaning friend, if it didn’t come from her it’s off the cards,‘It’s all in the pursuit of pure originality.’ For her, art is a way of expressing, a way of thinking.

This is what gives her work its unique tone. Perhaps that’s why it resonates: May Watson’s art doesn’t just observe life - it gently mocks it, invites it in, and hangs it on the wall for everyone to see. Her work is refreshing, with a kind of beauty in the messiness. It seeks honesty, and by cutting through perfectionism it reminds us that art is everywhere and is very accessible. She’s not just following everyone else or trying to fit into a polished idea of what an artist should be. She’s doing May - and if she isn’t already on your radar - you should make sure she is.

By Olivia Summer Pointer