Duncan Williamson

Born and raised in Northumberland, England, Duncan Williamson cultivated his artistic craft at the Slade School of Fine Art in London (1981–1985). After six transformative years as a student and artist, he was awarded a full stipend to pursue his MFA at Newcomb College, Tulane in New Orleans, where he lived for the next 18 years. In 2005, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Duncan relocated to Austin, Texas, where he currently lives and works.

Duncan’s work is rooted in the tradition of miniature painting, capturing depth and intricate details on meticulously prepared copper plates. By layering watercolors on this stable surface, he revives a technique that peaked in popularity in the 16th century, bringing a fresh and unexpected perspective to a once-lost art form.

Sir Laurence Gowing, former director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., described Duncan's paintings as “unlike anything I know in current art… very small, very intense, and entirely original pictures which give a crystalline and concentrated vision of a landscape.”

Duncan’s creations reflect the sceneries and vistas from his early years in rural Northumberland, with its rolling hills, abundant wildlife, woodlands, waterfalls, and coastal views. Following an exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art, critic Chris Waddington praised Duncan's work as "lushly atmospheric vistas... rich with the humid atmosphere and gentle poetry of rural England and Louisiana."

Duncan’s miniature paintings serve as small talismans, capturing landscapes and figures through the delicate alchemy of copper and pigment. They invite the viewer to choose: to display these works as framed masterpieces or to keep them as intimate treasures, hidden away in secret spaces.

For pricing, commission requests, or to inquire about available works, contact Duncan here.