Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 - 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist. He was also the main exponent of Art Nouveau in Scotland.

Born in Glasgow, he was apprenticed to an architect, but also attended evening classes in art.

He joined a firm of architects in 1889 and developed his own style: a contrast between strong right angles and decorative motifs with subtle curves, e.g. the Mackintosh Rose motif, along with some references to traditional Scottish architecture.

Amongst his architectural works are:

  • Hill House, Helensburgh (National Trust for Scotland)
  • House for an Art Lover, Glasgor
  • Glasgow School of Art
  • The Mackintosh House (Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow)
  • Queen's Cross church, Glasgow
  • Ruchill Church Hall, Glasgow
  • Holy Trinity Church, Bridge of Allan, Stirling
  • Scotland Street School, Glasgow
  • The Willow Rooms, also known as Miss Cranston's Tearooms
  • Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
  • Craigie Hall, Glasgow
  • Martyrs' Public School
  • The Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum, Glasgow
  • Daily Record offices, Glasgow
  • Glasgow Herald offices

He also became a famous designer in interior design, furniture, textiles and metalwork. His work was shown at the Vienna Secession Exhibition in 1900.

Towards the end of his life, he became a painter of watercolours, his well-known studies of flowers dating from the years he spent at Walberswick in Suffolk from 1914.

He was married to Margaret MacDonald, a Scottish illustrator whom he had met at the Glasgow School of Art. They worked together on some of his later watercolours.

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society tries to encourage a greater awareness of the work of Mackintosh as an important architect, artist and designer.


Similar uses of this name include: Charles Macintosh, inventor