Iain Macnab (1890-1967) – Winter Arrangement

Description

Iain MacNab Biography

Iain Macnab was a Scottish artist and influential teacher, best known for his contributions to wood engraving and for founding the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London in 1925. Born in Ilford, Essex, though of Scottish heritage, Macnab played a significant role in promoting modernist approaches to printmaking and design in early 20th-century Britain.

After serving in World War I, Macnab pursued his artistic studies, honing his skills as a wood engraver and painter. His work was marked by a distinctive style that combined the bold, rhythmic lines of wood engraving with a sense of movement and modernism, reflecting contemporary artistic trends.

Macnab’s lasting influence is most strongly felt through his work as a teacher. At the Grosvenor School, he fostered a progressive curriculum that attracted students from across Europe and beyond, encouraging them to experiment with both traditional and avant-garde techniques. Under his leadership, the school became a hub for the development of modernist printmaking, with artists like Sybil Andrews and Claude Flight among his notable students and colleagues.

Although primarily known for his prints, Macnab was also a skilled painter and continued to exhibit his work throughout his life. He was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, and his legacy endures through his contributions to both British modern art and the teaching of printmaking.

Iain Macnab died in 1967, leaving behind a significant impact on 20th-century British art through his work and his influence as an educator.

Iain McNab’s works in British public collections

Available works by Modern British artists.