Born in 1931 in Lucea, Barrington Watson made his original mark in Jamaica as a football player for Kingston College. However, he ultimately followed his artistic yearnings by enrolling at the Royal College of Art in London. He travelled widely and then returned to Jamaica in the early 1960s. In 1967 he won a prize at the first Spanish Biennal at Barcelona.
Barrington Watson has exhibited throughout Jamaica and internationally and currently lives in Jamaica. He is the father of sculptors Basil Watson and Raymond Watson.
Awards
1957 - British Council Scholarship
1958-9 - Jamaican Government Scholarship
1960 -
German Government Scholarship
1960 -
Dutch Government Scholarship
1961 - Jamaican Government Travel Scholarship
1967 - Special Award,
Spanish Bienalle -
First Barcelona International Exhibition 1971 -
Fulbright Professorship,
Spelman College,
Atlanta, GA 1974 - Gold Medal, Jamaica Festival
1980 - Centenary Medal,
Institute of Jamaica 1984 -
Commander of the Order of Distinction, C.D.
1984 -
Prime Minister of Jamaica's Award for Excellence
1999 -
Barrington Watson Day in Atlanta, GA (11 February)
2000 -
Gold Musgrave Award 2001 - Citation,
University of Technology, Jamaica