George Edward Mackley was born in Huntingdon and trained as a teacher at Goldsmiths College in London specializing in painting and etching. He learned the basic techniques of wood-engraving from Noel Rooke in 1935.
Wrote a book entitled “Wood Engraving” in 1948 which is still regarded as one of the best on the subject.
Made MBE in the 1983 new years honours list.