James McBey 1883-1959
Born in Aberdeenshire in 1883, McBey began his career as a self-taught artist. Originally a banker by trade, by 1910 he had built up the artist confidence to pursue his art on a full-time basis - travelling throughout Europe, North Africa and America. In 1912 he travelled to Morocco with the artist James Kerr Lawson, and incorporated watercolours into his oeuvre. During the First World War McBey was commissioned as a war artist, travelling widely throughout the Middle East.
In his later years, McBey lived primarily near Tangier in Morocco, although spent the final three years of the Second World War in America. After the war he returned to live in Tangier, but returned regularly to Britain and the United States. He died in Tangier, Morocco in 1959.
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James McBeyA Tartane Leaving Venice, 1928signed and numbered VII in pen; signed and inscribed 'Venice 12 October 1925' in plate; signed and titled by Martin Hardie in pencil to sheetetching6 1/2 x 12 1/4 inchesfrom the edition of 80 proofs -
James McBeyArtist and Model (self-portrait), 1925signed in pen to margin; inscribed 'Specimen proof for publ ed. MH 223' and signed Martin Hardie in pencil to sheetetching8 3/4 x 6 inches2nd trial proof (of 9) preceding the edition of 510 proofs
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James McBeyMacduff, 1922signed and inscribed 'Trial Proof V' in pen to margin; inscribed 'Trial [IV striked through] V thin forcing ink, hard rag, [__] from crowd down', inscribed 'Written by McBey' and 'MacDuff 210' by Martin Hardie in pencil to sheetetching11 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches5th trial proof (of 8) preceding the published edition of 76 proofs
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James McBeyBoulogne, 1916signed and numbered X in pen to margin; signed, inscribed 'Boulogne' and dated 1916 in plateetching8 x 11 1/2 inchesfrom the edition of 76 proofs
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The Print Show
12 Jan - 17 Feb 2023 LondonRead more -
The Wonderful World of James McBey
The Fine Art Society and Fettes Fine Art 18 Nov - 23 Dec 2022 EdinburghOver a period of 50 years James McBey (1883-1959) would have studios in London, the US and Morocco. From the north-east of Scotland, where he was born and raised, he...Read more -
James McBey
Etchings and Watercolours 11 - 26 Nov 2021 London'He began at dawn; he spent hours at the end of the Rialto or at a table under the shady colonnade of the Chioggia Cafe in the Piazzetta making pen...Read more -
Coast
1 Apr - 1 May 2021 EdinburghFind the online viewing room for Coast here. Scotland’s coastline is one which naturally inspires in its dramatic geography. Coast presents a journey around the shores of the Scottish homeland,...Read more -
Hang 2 //
Scottish Painting 1900-1940 13 Feb - 14 Mar 2020 EdinburghThe years 1900 to 1939 saw Britain move from a period of relative innocence and comfort to the trauma of war. After World War 1, artists retreated to more traditional,...Read more -
The Print Show
13 Jan - 8 Feb 2020 EdinburghThe Print Show presented an annual exhibition of Scottish printmaking, featuring three centuries of etchings, drypoint, woodcuts and lithography. Exhibited artists included: Sir Muirhead Bone, James Mcbey, Gerald Brockhurst, Robert...Read more -
Intimate
A Portrait 25 Jul - 31 Aug 2019 EdinburghClose and personal portraiture: painting, sculpture and photography by living and twentieth century artists whose sitters are closest to them or whose inner workings engage them, sometimes the artist themselves....Read more
