Watercolourist who painted landscapes with a strongly romantic feeling. Nephew and son-in-law of English painter John Linnell. 1850 arrived Lyttelton on the Sir John Seymour as a surveyor. 8 April 1869 advertised "a few watercolour paintings of New Zealand scenery" on view at "Mr Kent's Repository" in Christchurch. At some time before 1870 seems to have revisited England, calling in at Sydney on the way back: at the Canterbury Ex 1870 showed a painting of Government House, Sydney. September 1871 held a show of his work in Christchurch. By 1872 was in Australia again: showed 200 paintings in Melbourne, then had a show in Sydney. In 1873 was back in New Zealand, held a show of his paintings in Christchurch 1873 and in 1876-78 was a working member of OAS, in 1901 of CSA. In the 1880s he was probably living again in Sydney and, as a New South Wales artist, exhibited New Zealand scenes in Centennial Ex Melbourne 1888-89. Some of his early paintings are said to be from engravings by other artists. Watercolours of Lyttelton 1851 and Sumner 1871 and 1880 are in Canterbury Museum; a drawing of Dunedin c.1875 in Hocken, and one titled Four Peaks Station in Turnbull.

Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook, Una Platts