Artist of the Day, May 7, 2021: George Mackley, an English wood engraver, printmaker, painter (#1277)

George Mackley (1900 -1983) was born in United Kingdom, and educated at the Judd School, Tonbridge. He trained as a teacher of art at the Goldsmiths' College, London, specialising particularly in engraving and etching. In 1935, Mackley learned basic wood engraving technique from Noel Rooke and from that moment embraced wood engraving as the perfect complement to his career as an educator, affording as it did an outlet for his meticulous approach to art within the time constraints imposed by his primary obligations. His masterful wood engravings are among the finest of the mid-twentieth century. His Wood Engraving, published in 1948, remains one of the leading manuals on the engraver's technique.

A true master of his craft, George Mackley produced some of the finest examples of white-line wood engraving of the post-war era and his book on the practical aspects of the subject (published 1948) is still one of the leading manuals on technique. He made his final wood engraving, The Bridge of St. Boniface in 1968, after which a stroke made it impossible for him to continue engraving.

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 Kentish River 1939

 Horse Pond 1942

 Threshing at Flordon Hall 1943

Below the bridge 1947

 The Moat 1947

 The Lock 1949

 Moorings 1951

 The Ferry 1951

 Chestnuts 1952

 The deserted farm 1952

 Fenland River 1954

 The Sluice Gate 1955

 Church Path 1956

 The Watchtower 1958

 Lead Mine 1960

 Drawbridge 1962

 Gateway 1962

 Boederij 1968

 Broken willow Published in1968

 Cow parsley Published in 1968

 Diepenheim Mill Published in 1968

 Draining Mill Published in 1968

 Fishing Boats Published in 1968

 Footbridges Published in 1968

 In dock Published in 1968

 Island Slipway Published in 1968

 Litter Basket Published in 1968

 Lords and ladies Published in 1968

Sheds Published in 1968

Snatch Block Published in 1968

Sow Thistle Published in 1968

Three Color Bookplate Published in 1968

 Weir Published in 1968

 Welsh Farm Published in 1968

 Haybarns and Lock 1969

 Woodland Scene 1977