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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|02|22|1952|04|14|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|02|22|1952|04|14|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| death_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| known_for = Wax oil crayon landscapes
| known_for = [[Oil pastel|Wax oil crayon]] landscapes
| website = http://www.wawro.net
| website = http://www.wawro.net
}}
}}
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==Life==
==Life==
Wawro was the son of Tadeusz and Olive Wawro; his father was a Polish military officer and civil engineer who had settled as a librarian in [[Fife]], Scotland and his mother a Scottish schoolteacher. He was diagnosed as "moderately to severely retarded" at the age of three, a condition later recognised as [[autism]]. He did not learn to speak before the age of 11 and required eye surgery to remove [[cataract]]s, which left him with sufficiently poor eyesight to be classed as [[legally blind]].
Wawro was the son of Tadeusz and Olive Wawro; his father was a Polish military officer and civil engineer who had settled as a librarian in [[Fife]], Scotland and his mother a Scottish primary schoolteacher.<ref name="about"/> He was diagnosed as "moderately to severely retarded" at the age of three, a condition later recognised as [[autism]]. He did not learn to speak before the age of 11 and required eye surgery to remove [[cataract]]s, which left him with sufficiently poor eyesight to be classed as [[legally blind]].


As a toddler, Wawro began to draw on a [[chalkboard]]. In the local children's centre, at the age of six, he began to use [[wax crayon]]s, and his talent was recognised soon after. Professor Marian Bohusz-Szyszko of the Polish School of Art, London, said he was "thunderstruck" at Wawro's drawings, describing them as "an incredible phenomenon rendered with the precision of a mechanic and the vision of a poet".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wawro.net/early-work|title=Early Work|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>
As a toddler, Wawro began to draw on a [[chalkboard]]. At the age of six, his mother brought him to Molly Leishman, in the local children's centre, a [[special needs]] teacher who noticed his fascination with light and reflections. She introduced him to [[Oil pastel|wax crayon]]s, the medium in which he would work in for the rest of his life. Initially, his drawings were simple scribbles, much like those of his peers. But soon his scribbles began to evolve into recognisable images, with an unexpected level of detail and sophistication.<ref name="about"/> His talent was recognised soon after. Professor Marian Bohusz-Szyszko of the Polish School of Art, London, said he was "thunderstruck" at Wawro's drawings, describing them as "an incredible phenomenon rendered with the precision of a mechanic and the vision of a poet".<ref name="early">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wawro.net/early-work|title=Early Work|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>


He had his first exhibition in Edinburgh when he was 17. In the early 1970s one of his exhibitions was opened by [[Margaret Thatcher]], then Education Minister, who bought several of his pictures, as did [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]].
In 1970 the Edinburgh impresario [[Richard Demarco]] "discovered" Wawro, then aged 17, and exhibited his works in his gallery. His story was presented on the BBC's ''[[Nationwide (TV programme)|Nationwide]]'' programme. The report was shown a second time as one of the programme's highlights of that year. In the early 1970s one of his London exhibitions was opened by [[Margaret Thatcher]], then Education Minister, who bought several of his pictures, as did [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]].<ref name="about"/>


He got his father's approval for each picture until his father died in 2002. Overall he sold more than 1,000 pictures in around 100 exhibitions.
He got his father's approval for each picture until his father died in 2002. Overall he sold more than 1,000 pictures in around 100 exhibitions.


His original art was first introduced in the United States in 1977 at a [[National Council of Teachers of English]] conference on Creativity for the Gifted and Talented in New York City. In 1983 his life and work were the subject of a documentary film, ''With Eyes Wide Open'', by the autism expert Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D. who also produced a video profile of him, ''A Real Rainman''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wawro.net/media|title=Media|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>
His original art was first introduced in the United States in 1977 at a [[National Council of Teachers of English]] conference on Creativity for the Gifted and Talented in New York City. In 1983 his life and work were the subject of a documentary film, ''With Eyes Wide Open'', by the autism expert Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D. who also produced a video profile of him, ''A Real Rainman''.<ref name="media">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wawro.net/media|title=Media|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>


Wawro died in [[Edinburgh]] of [[lung cancer]] on 22 February 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wawro.net/about|title=About|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>
Wawro died in [[Edinburgh]] of [[lung cancer]] on 22 February 2006.<ref name="about">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wawro.net/about |title=About|website=Richard Wawro - Artist}}</ref>


==Works==
==Works==
Wawro worked in the unusual medium of [[oil pastel|wax oil crayon]], specialising in landscapes and seascapes that were acclaimed for their highly detailed and dramatic images of intense depth and colour. He used no models, but drew from images seen only once, such as in books or on television; his phenomenal memory enabled him to recall where he drew each picture and to date it precisely in his mind. Although possessing perfect recall, he often added his own touches to the images. He was particularly inspired by light, and the tones he used to capture light and shadows are considered masterly.
Wawro worked in the unusual medium of wax oil crayon, specialising in landscapes and seascapes that were acclaimed for their highly detailed and dramatic images of intense depth and colour. He used no models, but drew from images seen only once, such as in books or on television; his phenomenal memory enabled him to recall where he drew each picture and to date it precisely in his mind. Although possessing perfect recall, he often added his own touches to the images. He was particularly inspired by light, and the tones he used to capture light and shadows are considered masterly.


A collection of nine of Wawro's drawings was featured on an episode of BBC's ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'', filmed at [[Thirlestane Castle]] and broadcast on 22 September 2024. Wawro's brother gave some biographical information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002398j|title=BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 47, Thirlestane Castle 1|website=BBC}}</ref>
A collection of nine of Wawro's drawings was featured on an episode of BBC's ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'', filmed at [[Thirlestane Castle]] and broadcast on 22 September 2024. Wawro's brother gave some biographical information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002398j|title=BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 47, Thirlestane Castle 1|website=BBC}}</ref>
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[Stephen Wiltshire]]
*[[Stephen Wiltshire]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
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[[Category:People from Newport-on-Tay]]
[[Category:People from Newport-on-Tay]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Artists with autism]]
[[Category:Autistic artists]]
[[Category:British artists with disabilities]]
[[Category:British artists with disabilities]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish male artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish male artists]]

Latest revision as of 06:50, 22 November 2024

Richard Wawro
Born(1952-04-14)14 April 1952
Newport-on-Tay, Scotland
Died22 February 2006(2006-02-22) (aged 53)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Known forWax oil crayon landscapes
Websitehttp://www.wawro.net

Richard Wawro (14 April 1952 – 22 February 2006) was a Scottish artist notable for his landscapes in wax oil crayon. He was an autistic savant.

Life

[edit]

Wawro was the son of Tadeusz and Olive Wawro; his father was a Polish military officer and civil engineer who had settled as a librarian in Fife, Scotland and his mother a Scottish primary schoolteacher.[1] He was diagnosed as "moderately to severely retarded" at the age of three, a condition later recognised as autism. He did not learn to speak before the age of 11 and required eye surgery to remove cataracts, which left him with sufficiently poor eyesight to be classed as legally blind.

As a toddler, Wawro began to draw on a chalkboard. At the age of six, his mother brought him to Molly Leishman, in the local children's centre, a special needs teacher who noticed his fascination with light and reflections. She introduced him to wax crayons, the medium in which he would work in for the rest of his life. Initially, his drawings were simple scribbles, much like those of his peers. But soon his scribbles began to evolve into recognisable images, with an unexpected level of detail and sophistication.[1] His talent was recognised soon after. Professor Marian Bohusz-Szyszko of the Polish School of Art, London, said he was "thunderstruck" at Wawro's drawings, describing them as "an incredible phenomenon rendered with the precision of a mechanic and the vision of a poet".[2]

In 1970 the Edinburgh impresario Richard Demarco "discovered" Wawro, then aged 17, and exhibited his works in his gallery. His story was presented on the BBC's Nationwide programme. The report was shown a second time as one of the programme's highlights of that year. In the early 1970s one of his London exhibitions was opened by Margaret Thatcher, then Education Minister, who bought several of his pictures, as did John Paul II.[1]

He got his father's approval for each picture until his father died in 2002. Overall he sold more than 1,000 pictures in around 100 exhibitions.

His original art was first introduced in the United States in 1977 at a National Council of Teachers of English conference on Creativity for the Gifted and Talented in New York City. In 1983 his life and work were the subject of a documentary film, With Eyes Wide Open, by the autism expert Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D. who also produced a video profile of him, A Real Rainman.[3]

Wawro died in Edinburgh of lung cancer on 22 February 2006.[1]

Works

[edit]

Wawro worked in the unusual medium of wax oil crayon, specialising in landscapes and seascapes that were acclaimed for their highly detailed and dramatic images of intense depth and colour. He used no models, but drew from images seen only once, such as in books or on television; his phenomenal memory enabled him to recall where he drew each picture and to date it precisely in his mind. Although possessing perfect recall, he often added his own touches to the images. He was particularly inspired by light, and the tones he used to capture light and shadows are considered masterly.

A collection of nine of Wawro's drawings was featured on an episode of BBC's Antiques Roadshow, filmed at Thirlestane Castle and broadcast on 22 September 2024. Wawro's brother gave some biographical information.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "About". Richard Wawro - Artist.
  2. ^ "Early Work". Richard Wawro - Artist.
  3. ^ "Media". Richard Wawro - Artist.
  4. ^ "BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 47, Thirlestane Castle 1". BBC.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
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