Huw Watkins is notable for his equal renown as a pianist and composer. In the former role, he is a significant accompanist for and duet partner with many leading British and international figures, and in the latter, he has especially emphasized chamber and vocal music. As a pianist, Watkins has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Britten Sinfonia, and the London Sinfonietta. His duet and vocal partners include Alina Ibragimova, Daniel Hope, and Carolyn Sampson, who recorded his Five Larkin Songs (with Joseph Middleton) in 2020. Sampson is just one of the leading British performers who have championed Watkins' compositions. He joined Tamsin Waley-Cohen in 2020 for a recording of Beethoven violin sonatas. He returned in 2023, accompanying flutist Adam Walker on the album Shadow Dances: British Works for Flute.