He had been inspired by the major Samuel Palmer retrospective exhibition organised by Martin Hardie in London in 1926, and his first etching was made in that year.
He was particularly moved by Palmer's early Shoreham works which had been so influential on fellow students such as Paul Drury, William Larkins and Graham Sutherland.
Tanner believed that the study of natural things and the exploration of arts and crafts, music and poetry were essential for the development of teachers and children.
In 1932 they had moved into the house they built at Kington Langley outside Chippenham, Old Chapel Field, where the diarist Francis Kilvert's ancestors lie buried.
[1] The Institute of Education Archives also hold material relating to Tanner in the papers of George and Judith Baines (REF:BA).
[5] The Young Gallery, Salisbury, holds a collection of Tanner's botanical drawings, students' artwork and typographical work.