Ernest Walbourn was painter of landscape scenes often depicting young women and children. He was born on 16 February 1872 in Dalston, Middlesex the second of five children. Initially, his father was against him being an artist but later relented helping him set up his own studio in the grounds of the family home and paying for his art tuition. In 1895, Walbourn moved to Chingford, Essex from where he started exhibiting at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Over the next 25 years he continued to exhibit at major shows. From 1897, he exhibited works at the Royal Academy including titles such as "Poppies among the Peas" and "On the Allotments". He also exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists as well as at provincial galleries.

His work was widely admired and he sold many of his works through the London Art dealers Sampson & Wolfe. In 1906, he married Eva Gardner who helped him with some of the backgrounds of his larger canvasses and later became an artist in her own right. Walbourn's paintings show a great understanding of the effects of sunlight and shade. With his inclusion of figures and flowers he truly captures the beauty of the Victorian landscape.