Iain Macnab
1890-1967
Having studied at the Glasgow School of Art in 1917 and at Heatherly's in London in 1918, Macnab exhibited very widely between 1923 and 1960. As a draughtsman and engraver he was a master, unique in his precision and economy of understatement, which was emotionally charged and lucidly expressed. His contribution to the British School of Engraving and its fine history was a major one. As a Scotsman and Highlander his withering wit and relaxing humour led him either into trouble with his fellow artists or to sheer brilliance in the rendering of form. He was one of the most sought after teachers of his time and ran the famous Grosvenor School of Modern Art for a period of fifteen years, a record. His work is represented in collections including the V & A and the significant museums in Scotland. A member of the Society of Wood Engravers, he was associated with the development of the Federation of British Artists. Best known for his wood engravings and for his drawings of the human figure, his work was characterized by its clarity of form and compositional strength. A major book about his work by Albert Garrett was published in 1973 by Midas Books.