Herbert MacNair was an influential artist and designer, best known as a member of the group later dubbed The Four, alongside Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Macdonald sisters, Margaret and Frances.
Together, they helped define what became known as the Glasgow Style, a distinctive blend of symbolism, Art Nouveau, and Arts & Crafts principles.
Born in Glasgow, MacNair trained as an architect before turning to the decorative arts. His talents spanned painting, graphic design, metalwork, and furniture, often characterised by elongated figures, stylised ornament, and an interest in the abstract. His partnership with Frances Macdonald, whom he married in 1899, was central to his creative life, and the couple exhibited widely in Glasgow and Europe, gaining recognition for their collaborative works.
Though later overshadowed by his contemporaries, MacNair played a key role in shaping the visual language of fin-de-siècle Glasgow. His contributions remain integral to the wider story of the city’s artistic flowering at the turn of the century.
