His vision was to "give the people of the Highlands a unique opportunity to study their own history, to build up afresh the national Celtic art, and to solve some of the agricultural problems peculiar to the hills and glens of the north of Scotland."

For a variety of reasons, particularly the difficulty of obtaining financial support, Bain had to give up the idea, and in 1952, he and Jesse moved to Codsall in Staffordshire where they shared a large house with their daughter Christy and her husband.

[5] Bain was the first artist to analyse and deconstruct the designs found on Pictish sculpture and metalwork, and on illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

As well as describing and illustrating over 200 historical examples, his book was notable for giving detailed instructions on creating similar interlace, spiral, and key pattern designs, and encouraging their use in craftwork.

[15] The George Bain Collection website can be found here Digital archive and online community sharing the creativity of Celtic art.