Explore: William Hannan

(1725 - 1772)

William Hannan was born in Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. At about the age of 16 he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker in London. However, between 1751 and 1754 he produced four views of West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire for Sir Francis Dashwood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and a famous dilettante. Hannan was also involved in the interior decoration at West Wycombe. Between 1769 and 1772 He exhibited drawings and paintings, mostly Lake District views, at the Society of Artists in London, becoming a fellow in 1770. He also produced paintings after engravings of works by other artists, such as an oil painting after George Lambert’s ‘View of Hamoze and Plymouth Dock’ (Plymouth Art Gallery). Hannan died in High Wycombe at the age of 54.