Rediscovered: ‘The Old Willow Tree’ by Hugh Scott (1938)

‘The Old Willow-Tree’ by Hugh Scott

Every so often, a beautiful piece of Nelson’s art history reappears — and this month, one such treasure has resurfaced.

We recently received a message from Lynda Kamo, visiting from Australia with her family. During her stay, her mother-in-law revealed she still had an original watercolour painting by Nelson artist Hugh Scott, titled ‘The Old Willow Tree’, dated April 1938.

On the back of the work was a delightful discovery — a label showing it was sold through The Nelson Suter Art Society, directly linking it to our region’s creative legacy.

On the back of the painting there are several stickers

Born in England in 1869, Hugh Scott moved to New Zealand in 1904, bringing with him an impressive background in art education after studying in Florence, Brussels, and Paris. In Nelson, he became a central figure in the local art scene — serving as Director of The Bishop Suter Art Gallery, establishing the ‘Nelson School of Painting’, and teaching art at Nelson College.

Scott was also a generous mentor to many emerging artists, including Toss Woollaston and Marjorie Naylor, both of whom went on to make significant contributions to New Zealand’s art history. His delicate, light-filled watercolours captured the charm of the Nelson landscape.

The rediscovery of ‘The Old Willow Tree’ — painted just six years before Scott’s passing in 1944 — offers a touching reminder of his lasting influence and the deep roots of Nelson’s artistic heritage.

A charcoal sketch of Hugh Scott by Toss Woollaston, 1940 - The Suter Gallery Collection

We’re grateful to Lynda and her family for sharing this remarkable find, helping reconnect a cherished piece of our creative past. If you have a historic Nelson artwork, or memories from earlier Nelson Suter exhibitions, we’d love to hear from you too!