b. 18 October 1843. d. 27 February 1927. Nationality: English.
Portrait painter and illustrator. Born in Liverpool. Educated at Chester’s Mechanics’
Institute (1857-1860) and Warrington Art School (1860-1863). Moved to London in 1863
to study at the Government Art Training School and the Royal Academy Schools (1865-1866).
Specialized in portraits, periodical illustrations, novel illustrations, and social
realist paintings. Contributed to *The Quiver*, *Cornhill Magazine*, and *Gentleman’s
Magazine* as well as Charles Dickens’s unfinished final novel *The Mystery of Edwin
Drood* (1870). Married Fanny Woods on 15 July 1874. Frequently visited and painted
in Venice after 1874. Elected Royal Academician (1874) and associate of the Royal
Academy (1879). Knighted in 1906. Painted official portraits of Edward VII, Queen
Alexandra, and George V (1902-1912). Created Knight Commander of the Victorian Order
in 1918. Biographical information: *ODNB*. (AC, CC)