William McCance
Encyclopedia
William McCance was a Scottish artist and second Controller of the Gregynog Press
, Wales.
Born in 1894 at Cambuslang
, Scotland, William McCance was the seventh of eight children. After attending the Hamilton Academy
school, McCance entered Glasgow School of Art
, studying there from 1911-15 and subsequently undertaking a teacher-training course at Glasgow’s Kennedy Street school. A conscientious objector
in World War I
, McCance was imprisoned. Following his discharge from prison in 1920, McCance and his illustrator/engraver wife Agnes Miller Parker
(1895-1980, married 1918) moved to London where McCance was employed as a teacher and art critic writing for The Spectator
. McCance’s paintings in the 1920s were unusual in that he was one of the few Scottish artists who embraced the cubist, abstract and machine-inspired arts movements that were to be spread across Europe following the First World War.
In the 1930’s McCance took up the post as the second Controller of the famous Gregynog Press
, Wales, founded in 1922, after which he was to teach book design at the University of Reading
.
William McCance died in 1970. A collection of his paintings are held in the National Galleries of Scotland
and Dundee Art Gallery, and in 1975 a retrospective exhibition of his work was shown at Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Gregynog Press
The Gregynog Press, also known as Gwasg Gregynog, is a printing press and charity in Wales.Founded in 1922 by the sisters and art patrons Margaret and Gwendoline Davies, the press was named after their mansion Gregynog Hall. It rose to prominence in the pre-war era as among the more important...
, Wales.
Born in 1894 at Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
, Scotland, William McCance was the seventh of eight children. After attending the Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
school, McCance entered Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
, studying there from 1911-15 and subsequently undertaking a teacher-training course at Glasgow’s Kennedy Street school. A conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, McCance was imprisoned. Following his discharge from prison in 1920, McCance and his illustrator/engraver wife Agnes Miller Parker
Agnes Miller Parker
Agnes Miller Parker was a Scottish engraver and illustrator.Halsby and Harris, in The Dictionary of Scottish Painters suggest that Parker's early paintings, as well as those of her husband, reflect the short-lived group of artists known as Vorticists, active in London in the 1920s. The main body...
(1895-1980, married 1918) moved to London where McCance was employed as a teacher and art critic writing for The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
. McCance’s paintings in the 1920s were unusual in that he was one of the few Scottish artists who embraced the cubist, abstract and machine-inspired arts movements that were to be spread across Europe following the First World War.
In the 1930’s McCance took up the post as the second Controller of the famous Gregynog Press
Gregynog Press
The Gregynog Press, also known as Gwasg Gregynog, is a printing press and charity in Wales.Founded in 1922 by the sisters and art patrons Margaret and Gwendoline Davies, the press was named after their mansion Gregynog Hall. It rose to prominence in the pre-war era as among the more important...
, Wales, founded in 1922, after which he was to teach book design at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
.
William McCance died in 1970. A collection of his paintings are held in the National Galleries of Scotland
National Galleries of Scotland
The National Galleries of Scotland are the five national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries. It is one of the country's National Collections.-List of national galleries:* The National Gallery of Scotland* The Royal Scottish Academy Building...
and Dundee Art Gallery, and in 1975 a retrospective exhibition of his work was shown at Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
External links
- http://www.gsa.ac.uk Glasgow School of Art
- http://www.gwasg-gregynog.co.uk/index.php The Gregynog Press, Wales