John Mackechnie, MBE, RSA, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1949. He graduated in Drawing & Painting from Glasgow School of Art in 1971, before going on to Postgraduate Studies in printmaking at the University of Brighton. He was a printmaking tutor at the University of Northumbria for a number of years until returning to Glasgow Print Studio to take up a post as an evening class tutor, quickly climbing through the ranks to become firstly the Workshop Manager and since January 1983, Director.
He exhibits prolifically throughout the UK and abroad in solo and mixed exhibitions. 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.
Mackechnie has always embraced technology and photography in printmaking and pioneered the development of multi plate colour etching which he also taught and encouraged amongst other printmakers, developing what became known as Etching- Glasgow Style, culminating in an exhibition of that name in 1984.
However, since 1999 his principal technique has been screenprinting. His subject matter includes Hebridean waters, skyscraper reflections, and American urban landscapes. Mackechnie employs multi-layer screenprint techniques to create nuanced images with visceral, tactile qualities.
His own source photographic compositions, employing a patient process of capturing and editing, are integral to the finished prints.
His works have been acquired by many major public and private collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; GOMA, Glasgow; the V&A, London; the British Museum, London; the British Council; MIMA, Middlesbrough; Aberdeen Art Gallery and McManus Gallery, Dundee.
