ERIC Watt’s passion for amateur photography led him to spend his free time on the streets of Glasgow, taking images of the city and its people.

Glasgow Times:

Now, an exhibition of some of his most striking images shows Glasgow, warts and all, from the late 1950s to the 1990s.

Glasgow Times:

Many of the most engaging photos show children at play in the streets and parks – a cheeky face being pulled by a little girl, boys walking home from a football game – but there are grown-ups too, like the woman in the Schweppes factory, the workers at the fish market, the construction teams putting bridges into place and the demolition crews pulling buildings down.

Glasgow Times:

Eric lived on the south side of Glasgow, a keen photographer since he was given his first camera at the age of 13. He joined Queen’s Park Camera Club in 1958 and remained an active member all his life.

Initially, he worked for Schweppes as a chemist, first in Glasgow and then in Newcastle, before returning to the city to take up a post as a science teacher at Woodfarm High School in Thornliebank.

The introduction to Coming Into View explains: “Eric’s early photographs document the areas of Glasgow which he could reach on foot from the family flat in Pollokshields, such as the Gorbals, Kinning Park or Tradeston.

“Later on, he purchased his first car, and the whole city lay open for him to explore.”

Eric’s pictures capture the heart and soul of Glasgow and its people, telling the story of a city evolving through the decades with humour, spirit and warmth.

Coming Into View is at Kelvingrove until March 2023. The accompanying book of the same name, published by Glasgow Museums, is available now.

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