Colin Webster-Watson
Encyclopedia
Colin Webster-Watson was a New Zealand sculptor and poet.
Webster-Watson (he hyphenated his name later in life) grew up in Palmerston North
, New Zealand
, where he attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
. At the age of twenty, he traveled to Japan with the Commonwealth Occupation Force
. While in Japan, his army superiors deemed that he would be better employed as an entertainer than a soldier, and gave him the responsibility to organise concerts for the troops.
In 1954, Webster-Watson moved to London to become a dancer and comedian at the Windmill Theatre
. For a time, he also worked as a radio sports reporter in Wales.
Following the death of his father in 1960, Webster-Watson suffered a breakdown and moved to Italy. It was while running an orphanage in Alberobello
that he discovered his love of sculpture and soon after established a studio in Rome. His patrons during this time included Gloria Swanson
, Carroll Baker
, Morris West
, Robert Ardrey
, Harold Robbins
and Henry Rothschild
.
Webster-Watson married Jane Ewing in New York in the 1980s where they lived in Wainscott
on Long Island.
In 1990, he moved to Palm Springs, where he lived for 14 years.
In 2004, Webster-Watson returned to New Zealand, where he died in 2007.
Webster-Watson donated several works to Wellington
including Tail of the Whale (Oriental Bay
) , Frenzy (Owhiro Bay
), Prowling Cheetah (Wellington Zoo
), Mountain of Dreams (Wellington Zoo
), La Famiglia (Wellington Hospital
).
Webster-Watson (he hyphenated his name later in life) grew up in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School is a state secondary school for boys located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location:Palmerston North Boys' High School is located on Featherston Street, between the intersections of Rangitikei Street and North Street....
. At the age of twenty, he traveled to Japan with the Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
. While in Japan, his army superiors deemed that he would be better employed as an entertainer than a soldier, and gave him the responsibility to organise concerts for the troops.
In 1954, Webster-Watson moved to London to become a dancer and comedian at the Windmill Theatre
Windmill Theatre
The Windmill Theatre, later The Windmill International, was a variety and revue theatre in Great Windmill Street, London. The theatre was famous for its nude tableaux vivants...
. For a time, he also worked as a radio sports reporter in Wales.
Following the death of his father in 1960, Webster-Watson suffered a breakdown and moved to Italy. It was while running an orphanage in Alberobello
Alberobello
Alberobello is a small town and comune in the province of Bari, in Puglia, Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli constructions. The Trulli of Alberobello are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites list since 1996....
that he discovered his love of sculpture and soon after established a studio in Rome. His patrons during this time included Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
, Carroll Baker
Carroll Baker
Carroll Baker is a former American actress who has enjoyed popularity as both a serious dramatic actress and, particularly in the 1960s, as a movie sex symbol...
, Morris West
Morris West
Morris Langlo West AO was an Australian novelist and playwright, best known for his novels The Devil's Advocate , The Shoes of the Fisherman , and The Clowns of God . His books were published in 27 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide...
, Robert Ardrey
Robert Ardrey
Robert Ardrey was an American playwright and screenwriter who returned to his academic training in anthropology and the behavioral sciences in the 1950s....
, Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins was one of the best-selling American authors of all time. During his career, he wrote over 25 best-sellers, selling over 750 million copies in 32 languages....
and Henry Rothschild
Rothschild family
The Rothschild family , known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a Jewish-German family that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century...
.
Webster-Watson married Jane Ewing in New York in the 1980s where they lived in Wainscott
Wainscott, New York
Wainscott is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet with the same name in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 628...
on Long Island.
In 1990, he moved to Palm Springs, where he lived for 14 years.
In 2004, Webster-Watson returned to New Zealand, where he died in 2007.
Webster-Watson donated several works to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
including Tail of the Whale (Oriental Bay
Oriental Bay
Oriental Bay is a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Located close to the CBD on Wellington Harbour, it has the closest beach to the centre of the city and is thus a popular spot both for living and for visiting....
) , Frenzy (Owhiro Bay
Owhiro Bay
Ōwhiro Bay is a southern suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, that overlooks the Cook Strait. It is situated west of the larger suburb of Island Bay.-Education:...
), Prowling Cheetah (Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo is nestled in the green belt of Wellington, New Zealand. Now over 100 years old, it was the country’s first Zoo and has dedicated to over 100 different species of fauna from across the globe...
), Mountain of Dreams (Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo is nestled in the green belt of Wellington, New Zealand. Now over 100 years old, it was the country’s first Zoo and has dedicated to over 100 different species of fauna from across the globe...
), La Famiglia (Wellington Hospital
Wellington Hospital, New Zealand
Wellington Hospital is Wellington, New Zealand's main hospital located in the suburb of Newtown. It is the main hospital run by Capital & Coast District Health Board , the others including Kapiti Health Centre, and Kenepuru Hospital...
).