The People of Irvine

Agnes Miller Parker was a prolific and talented illustrator and artist. Trained at The Glasgow School of Art and married to fellow student and artist William McCance; her principal medium was woodcut. She mastered this notoriously difficult method and produced hundreds of superb drawings, many of which are to be found in books such as those by Thomas Hardy and H.E. Bates. For more information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Miller_Parker

Munro Scott Orr, born in Irvine's High Street in October of 1874, studied at The Glasgow School of Art between 1894 and 1900 (he would have witnessed the construction of the Mackintosh building and would have been among its first occupants). In the first half of the 20th Century, Orr produced a prodigious and varied range of book illustrations: from children's books, such as The Arabian Nights, Grim Fairy Tales and Treasure Islands; to the works of Robert Burns; and the works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte (Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, respectively).

Born in Irvine on 2nd May 1779, John Galt wrote many notable books, including the satirical novels 'The Annals of the Parish' and 'The Provost' - the first on a religious theme, the second on a political one (the latter being based on the Town Council of Irvine). He had many business ventures and founded the City of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. For more information : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galt_(novelist)

This is an example of a lithographic process which reproduces the effect of crayon. Allan used this technique many times in the work which he produced for Millar & Lang, Art Publishers, Glasgow.

Drawn by Irvine-born artist, Andrew Allan; this postcard was published by Millar and Lang Limited, Art Publishers of Glasgow.

This is currently being used as a means by which to promote Clyde Imagineering's 6 year long biographical project.