Born in London, Watts emigrated to Perth with his family in 1906, later moving to Katanning.

Having boarded at Guildford Grammar School, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1920 as a barrister and solicitor.

Watts was elected to parliament for the Country Party[note 1] at a 1935 by-election, necessitated by the death of Arnold Piesse.

Despite being Opposition leader, Watts did not become Premier with the change of government at the 1947 election as his party the Country Party won one less seat than its Coalition partner the Liberals resulting in Liberal leader McLarty becoming Premier instead.

The government was defeated at the 1953 election, but was re-elected at the six years, with Watts again serving as deputy premier under David Brand.