John Mackechnie, MBE RSA, (born 19 August 1949) is an artist from Glasgow, Scotland.[1] He began his career as a 15-year-old copy boy in the Glasgow newspaper trade,[2][3] following in his father's footsteps.[4]

Education edit

He attended Croftfoot Primary School in Glasgow, followed by Broomhill Primary and went on to study at Hyndland Secondary School in the west end of Glasgow. He graduated in Drawing & Painting from Glasgow School of Art in 1971, before going on to Postgraduate Studies in printmaking at Brighton Polytechnic, now known as University of Brighton.[5]

Career edit

John was a printmaking tutor at Newcastle Polytechnic,[6] now the University of Northumbria from 1973 -1978, until returning to Glasgow Print Studio in 1978 to take up a post as an evening class tutor, he then became the Workshop Manager and from January 1983 until April 2023, Director.[7]

He exhibits throughout the UK and internationally in solo and group exhibitions.[8] He utilises photography and technology in printmaking and was at the forefront of the development of multi plate colour etching, developing what is now known as the 'Etching-Glasgow Style', an exhibition of that name was held at Glasgow Print Studio in 1984.[9] (alongside Jonathan Robertson and Dawson Murray)[10]

Since 1999 his technique of choice has been screenprinting.[11]

His subject matter includes Skyscraper reflections, Hebridean waters, and American classic cars and American urban landscapes.[12]

Honours edit

He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 2005 and was recognised for his services to Art in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2019[13]

Personal life edit

In 1975 John married the artist Sue Mackechnie. In an interview in 2020 John stated that he "couldn't have done any of it without the support of my wife."[14]

References edit

  1. ^ "John Mackechnie RSA - Overview". Royal Scottish Academy. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ^ "Galleries: The pioneering John Mackechnie is still true to his original vision". The Herald. 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  3. ^ Patience, Jan. "Exhibition hails 50 years of famous Glasgow Print Studio". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  4. ^ Livingstone, Elaine (2020-02-13). "Glasgow Lives, John: 'Print is in the blood'". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  5. ^ "Legendary director of Glasgow Print Studio steps down after 40 years". Glasgow Times. 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  6. ^ "Mackechnie, John, b.1949 | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ "Legendary director of Glasgow Print Studio steps down after 40 years". Glasgow Times. 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ^ "John Mackechnie RSA - Overview". Royal Scottish Academy. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  9. ^ "John Mackechnie - Overview". shop.glasgowprintstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  10. ^ "1984". Scottish Art Archive. 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  11. ^ "John Mackechnie - Overview". shop.glasgowprintstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  12. ^ "John Mackechnie - Overview". shop.glasgowprintstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  13. ^ "Birthday Honours 2019: The full Scottish list". The Herald. 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  14. ^ Livingstone, Elaine (2020-02-13). "Glasgow Lives, John: 'Print is in the blood'". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 2023-10-27.