Macmorland, Arthur

Person

Macmorland, Arthur

Arthur Macmorland was born 8th October 1888. He attended the Glasgow School of Art and became an art teacher first in Girvan High School, Ayrshire then in Markinch, Fife. Next he went to Dunfermline Academy then to Marr College, Troon, Ayrshire where he taught until he retired to live in Fairlie. He painted in watercolour and chose out door subjects in Scotland and in particular the island of Iona. Many of his paintings are owned by members of the family. He married Jessie Nisbet (27 Dec 1916) whose father was a school master in Maybole, Ayrshire. Jessie was born on 25 Aug 1890 and died on 7 Jul 1966 in Helensburgh, where Manatte lived. They had two children: Arthur and Manette.

As a child Arthur suffered from rheumatic fever resulting in heart trouble which meant he was not called up for national service in World War I (1914-1918). He graduated with a DA. from Glasgow School of Art, where he had studied drawing and painting. He went on to teach art for a short spell in Doune. He married J.Nisbet in 1916. Then he was appointed to head of art in Girvan High School. His son Arthur was born in Girvan in 1919. He moved to itinerant art teaching in Fife and was then appointed head of the Art Department in Dunfermline High School, for approximately 15 years. During this period his daughter Margaret/Manette was born (1923).

He also exhibited his lively watercolours in various galleries and gave lectures in the history of art as well as putting forward a case for making art a Leaving Certificate subject in schools. The latter led him to be awarded a F.R.S.A. One of his watercolours was purchased by Dr Tom Honeyman for the Glasgow Art Gallery's collection. Some of his works are noted in The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Dictionary, including exhibited watercolours from 1932 -1953.

In 1935 the family moved to Troon where Arthur became head of art in the newly opened Marr College. When war broke out in 1939 gave up his car and cycled to school every day. He retired (early) at the age of 60 to move to Fairlie and he continued to paint till he died on 2 September 1953. His book on the Ostwald Colour Theory (published by Reeves water colour suppliers) was widely used in Scottish schools.

Source: McWhirter Family Genealogy http://www.mcwhirterfamily.co.uk/?page_id=363

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