William Watson was an Irish artist who worked in oils and pastels. He was a brother of the mezzotint engraver, James Watson. His work is close in style to the pastel portraits of Francis Cotes (English, 1726-1770). He exhibited three works at The Society of Artists in Ireland, from an address in College Green, in 1765. There are two works by Watson in the National Gallery of Ireland: a pastel drawing of Viscountess Caroline Sudley, No. 7934, and a signed oil painting entitled Portrait of a young lady, No. 4300. His wife was a painter of fruit and flower pieces, which she exhibited in Dublin between 1768 and 1772.