McWilliam, F(rederick) E(dward) (1909–1992)

Northern Irish sculptor. A highly individual artist, several of his largely abstract bronze castings and woodcarvings show the influence of Indian sculpture. He taught for over 20 years (1947–68) at the Slade School of Art in London.

McWilliam was born in Banbridge, County Down, and studied at the Slade before going in France on a scholarship in 1931. Returning to England, he held his first one-man show in 1939, but his career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served with the RAF in India. His works include Princess Macha 1957, and Women of Belfast 1972–73. A major retrospective of his work was held at the Tate Gallery, London, in 1989.