One of the most significant savant artists of the 20th century
Richard Wawro (1952-2006) was a Scottish artist and one of only 25 recognised prodigious savants in the world during his lifetime.
Richard developed his art well beyond the constrictions of his autism and over his lifetime he created more than 4,000 drawings in his chosen medium of wax crayons. With these he produced exceedingly detailed, dramatic images of intense depth and colour - a feat that is remarkable given that his eyesight was so poor that he was considered technically blind.
Richard’s art has been celebrated around the globe, with notable collectors including Lady Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II.
Early years
Richard Wawro (pronounced Vavro) was born on April 14th, 1952, in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland. His father, Tadeusz, was one of many Polish army officers who settled in Scotland after the war. His mother Olive, a primary school teacher, was from a farming community in Galloway.
Richard's early years were difficult and painful as a result of his congenital disabilities. Between bouts of disturbed behaviour he would often pause to stare at sources of light, deriving most pleasure from staring directly at the sun. Strongly repetitive actions such as striking the same note on the piano for hours at a time and spinning household objects were typical characteristics of his autism. However, at the time autism had not been defined as a condition and he was diagnosed as "severely mentally handicapped".
Richard’s mother, undeterred by the many rejections from authorities, sought tirelessly to secure a meaningful education for her son. This unyielding devotion, combined with his father’s constant support, provided the nurturing environment that would eventually allow Richard’s genius to emerge.
Beginning to draw
Richard’s restless and repetitive behaviour and lack of speech made it difficult for his parents to find an educational environment suited to his needs. At six years old, his mother brought him to Molly Leishman, a special needs teacher known for her willingness to work with children who had been deemed too challenging by other schools.
Mrs. Leishman was determined to find activities that would capture Richard’s interest. Noticing his fascination with light and reflections, she introduced him to wax crayons: the medium he would continue to work in for the rest of his life. Initially, his drawings were simple scribbles, much like those of his peers. But soon, something remarkable occurred: his scribbles began to evolve into recognisable images, marked by an unexpected level of detail and sophistication.
Recognising the brilliance in his work, Mrs. Leishman was amazed. She recalled later the excitement of seeing his first drawing emerge. "What I saw was magic. It was impressionism and I couldn't believe my eyes," she said. Without disclosing his autism, she sought professional opinions on his drawings and was thrilled when her instincts were confirmed: Richard possessed a rare gift, far surpassing that of a typical child.
Public recognition
As Richard grew up, it was evident that the more he drew, the more settled he became. He had practically no speech at that time and he used to draw to communicate. He would draw anything within his daily experience; what he had for breakfast, the school bus and the cartoons that he saw on television. Though Richard’s parents were delighted that his drawings were now permanent, his frenetic output meant that they struggled to provide enough paper to stop him drawing on wallpaper when he ran out. Visitors to the Wawro household were entertained by perfectly drawn cartoons of Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear on the walls throughout the house. The problem was solved by his father, a civil engineer, bringing discarded technical drawings back to the house so that Richard could draw on the back of them.
His breakthrough came in 1970 when Richard Demarco, the Edinburgh impresario, "discovered" him and exhibited his works in his gallery. National interest followed when his story was told by the BBC on its flagship Nationwide programme. The report was aired a second time as one of the programme's highlights of that year.
One of his subsequent exhibitions in London was opened by Mrs Thatcher as minister of education. Years later when visiting Edinburgh, she was to describe him as "her favourite artist". Richard went on to develop his talent and have more than 100 exhibitions throughout Europe and North America. He particularly enjoyed travelling in the United States where he was accepted as an artist in his own right rather than as a handicapped artist.
One in 320 million
Richard was one of only 25 individuals recognised as a prodigious savant during his lifetime, a testament to the rarity and uniqueness of his abilities. Individuals with savant syndrome exhibit significant cognitive or developmental disabilities, such as autism, but also extraordinary talents in specific areas, often described as "islands of genius." These abilities can range from musical virtuosity and photographic memory to incredible mathematical or artistic skills.
In Richard's case, his genius manifested in his astonishing ability to create highly detailed and emotionally resonant artworks. His talent is reminiscent of other famous savants, such as Stephen Wiltshire, who is known for his ability to draw intricate cityscapes from memory after just a brief glance.
The rarity of savant syndrome and the exceptional abilities it can produce continue to fascinate both the scientific community and the public. Richard’s work, much like that of other renowned savants, provides a window into the extraordinary potential of the human brain, highlighting how even individuals with profound challenges can achieve remarkable feats that defy typical understanding.
Unique technique
Richard always drew natural scenes, often with animals, and latterly he preferred to focus on landscapes, choosing subjects he had memorised from television documentaries, travel books or direct experience. No matter what he drew, it was always from memory. The interest around autistic savants with a visual gift centres on their ability to reproduce what they see from memory, perfect in every detail. Though Richard had the immense visual memory of a savant, he differed in that he would he would add or move elements in his drawings to improve the composition as he saw fit. There can be very few artists working in crayon who share his technical abilities in colouring and shading - sky and water were his specialities. He was a self-taught master of his medium.
Richard’s technique was even more astonishing considering that his eyesight was so poor he was legally considered blind. He worked just inches from the paper, unable to see the entire picture at once. This makes the creation of his complex and visually stunning compositions all the more difficult to understand. Occasionally, his visual limitations reveal themselves in small details, such as a slightly crooked building or an uneven church spire.
At his peak, Richard was producing a large, intricate drawing every day—an extraordinary output. Each finished piece was celebrated with a high-five ritual between Richard and his father, Tadeusz, a moment of shared pride and joy in his artistic achievement.
Legacy
Although Richard had communication difficulties, he had the knack of connecting with almost everyone he met. He could be charming and was very good at persuading care workers to take him to his favourite bookshop to look at illustrated books. As a result of his frequent visits, Richard was well known to the staff of the main Edinburgh bookshops. He had a friendship with one of assistants at Thin's bookshop that lasted over 30 years. Music also played a big part in his life. Sixties pop music was his speciality; on hearing a song he could name it, the singer and the year usually within the first bar of the introduction and often from the opening chords.
As an ideal subject for human-interest television and psychology theses, Richard participated in countless programmes and studies. Far from finding it tedious, he rather enjoyed the attention, declaring himself an "international artist". An award-winning documentary, With Eyes Wide Open, was made about him in 1983.
Richard died of cancer on February 22nd, 2006. He is survived by his brother, Michael, and nieces, Sophie and Katie. The body of work that he created forms a remarkable legacy.
