The bulk of the book was designed last year when the exhibition was originally scheduled for August 2020 but, because of the pandemic, the exhibition was postponed, and the book mothballed, which makes it even more of a pleasure to finally see finished copies of the book, beautifully printed by Gomer in Wales. I have been working on the book with Bill’s daughter, the arts consultant and Clore Fellow, Jeanie Scott. It has been a pleasure to work with Jeanie and fascinating to find out more about Bill’s practice and his legacy. Many of the photographs in the book are new images, taken by the brilliant John McKenzie, www.johnmckenziephotography.co.uk, that reveal Bill’s work in all its intricate detail.
The cover image is a detail of Exploration / Mapping, 2010 and the title text is Scott’s own lettering, drawn and modelled by the artist for his 1986 memorial to the football player and manager, Jock Stein, commissioned by Dunfermline Athletic Football Club. Bill’s family were very keen to have this hand-drawn text on the cover as it carries much of the warmth and character of this much-loved Scottish artist. The inside cover (below) is a detail from an untitled collage from 1999, a nice contrast to the weightiness of the bronze sculpture on the outside.
