The Methods of Construction of Celtic Knotwork
Groam House Museum

This educational page was designed by George Bain (1881 – 1968), the artist and educator born in Scrabster in Caithness. Bain was captivated by intricate Pictish stones, early medieval illuminated manuscripts, and ornate metalwork from Britain and Ireland.

He made detailed drawings of the designs and created an instruction method to help others to recreate them through a series of simple steps and keep these designs alive and well in the Highland community.

Ever the educator, he also created large posters to illustrate his Celtic art classes and lectures. Bain’s art students at Kirkcaldy High School, where he was the principal teacher for art, remember his classroom being decorated with numerous large-scale designs.

This is one of his instructional pages, showing how to draw interlace in a series of stages. A pencil annotation at the bottom right reads ‘Children’s Magazine Plate 2’, but we have been unable to trace this publication.