A pair of contrasting sea and costal paintings by Walter Williams. The first is a dramatic seascape showing the wreck of a ship having been driven against a rocky coast in a storm. In the distance, other ships can be seen battling the elements to avoid succumbing to the same fate. In the second painting, figures are depicted waiting on the rocky shore of a coastal village at low tide. Lobster pots can be seen to the left of the foreground bathed in the glow of the sun as it rises.

Walter Williams was born in North London on the 29 November 1834 to the artist George Augustus Williams (1814-1901) and his wife Caroline Francis (nee Smith). He was part of the Williams family of artists founded by his grandfather Edward Williams (1781-1855). His uncles Edward Charles Williams (1807-1881), Henry John Boddington (1811-1865), Arthur Gilbert (1819-1895), Sidney Richard Percy (1821–1886) and Alfred Walter Williams (1824–1905) were all artists.

He was christened George after his father, but later used his middle name to distinguish between the two. He lived with his family in Liverpool Street on the Grays Inn Road in London until around 1846 when they moved to Castlenau Villas in Barnes. Williams was taught by his father and may have also received guidance from other members of the Williams family including his Grandfather. His father worked out of neighbouring studios with his grandfather and uncles and Williams and his cousins often joined them there to paint.

He made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1854 and went on to exhibit at the British Institution and the Society of British Artists. On 27 June, 1857 he married Jane Pearcy (1832-1872) who was also an artist. They lived at 8 Lonsdale Terrace (later Lonsdale Road) in Barnes and went on to have two children, Florence and Cyril who inherited their parent’s talent. After the death of his wife in 1872 he continued living at Lonsdale Terrace and later married for a second time. Sometime around the late 1890’s he moved with his wife Mary to 20 Lonsdale Road. Williams died in Richmond on 14 April, 1906.

Examples of his work can be found at the Beverley Art Gallery and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art