Born in Glasgow, McFall studied at the Birmingham School of Art from 1934 to 1939. In 1939 he worked as an assistant to Eric Gill, before studying at the Royal College of Art in London from 1940 to 1941, and at the City and Guilds of London Art School from 1941 to 1945. He worked with Jacob Epstein from 1944 until 1958, returning to the City and Guilds School in Kennington to teach from 1956 to 1975.

He is one of the most notable figurative sculptors of the 20th century. His early portraits of the 40’s owe much to Epstein but by the 1950’s he had developed his own individual style. He developed a technique of modelling clay on his knees so that he did not have to put the sitter on a pedestal, thus creating a natural atmosphere between sculptor and sitter. It helped him portray the character and soul of the person. Over a long career, he created over 75 portrait heads, mostly cast in bronze, and include some notably eminent people of his day; George Godber (the father of the NHS) Atlee, Churchill, HRH Prince Charles, several spooks including Ellic Howe, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Lord Brabazon. McFall was also influenced by the work of Rodin, Manet and Degas, and his nude portraits of beautiful women emanate his fascination with impressionist artists. His larger works are owned privately and publicly, and are displayed worldwide. Custodians of McFall’s work include Tate, National Portrait Gallery, Imperial War Museum, House of Lords, St Brides Fleet Street, Council Building Bristol, Kelvingrove Gallery, Woodford Green (Constituency Statue of Churchill) Blackhorse Road Station and Worcester cathedral. McFall was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1955, at the time, the youngest ever member to be elected, and became a full member in 1963.