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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.