A new exhibition in the West Country sheds light on the journey of one of the UK’s leading abstract artists and his remarkable interaction with an American art legend.
Three significant paintings by William Scott (1913–1989) are on loan to the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, not far from Scott’s countryside home and studio near Bath.
Visitors will discover details about a pivotal visit made by American artist Mark Rothko to Scott’s residence in 1959. During this encounter, the two artists discussed the murals they were creating for a restaurant in New York and a hospital in Northern Ireland.
Curator Tim Martin emphasizes that this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view Scott’s works on loan from the Tate in a setting that held great significance for him, as well as to reflect on Rothko’s visit to the West Country.
“Scott produced these three pieces during the peak of his career in the late 1950s, a time when he was very confident in his approach,” noted Martin.
Among the artworks featured is “Ochre Still Life,” showcasing everyday items like pots and pans, while “Black Painting” could be interpreted as an abstract depiction of stone walls.
The exhibition, titled Beauty in Plainness – William Scott in Somerset, derives its name from Scott’s belief that “I find beauty in plainness.”
Scott first met Rothko in New York in the early 1950s, where he was taken aback by the scale and scope of abstract expressionism being created there. Their rapport blossomed, leading to Rothko’s 1959 visit to Somerset, where he stayed with Scott and his family.
The two artists delved into discussions about their mural projects; Scott was creating a large wall piece for the entrance hall of Altnagelvin hospital in Derry, Northern Ireland. When this abstract work was finally revealed, it reportedly received a stunned silence from the audience.
At the time of his Somerset visit, Rothko was working on murals for a restaurant in New York’s Seagram Building. Following his stay in the West Country, he withdrew from this commission, feeling that the high-end restaurant environment was not a fitting home for his art. He subsequently donated a selection of nine canvases from the series to the Tate.
The exhibition is open from November 15 to February 7, 2026. Tim Martin will present a preview talk about Scott’s life and art at the Museum of Somerset at 2:30 PM on November 14, with prior booking required.
