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Samuel Walters was born in London on 1st
November, 1811. His father Miles (1773-1855)
was a master tradesman and marine artist who
originated from Ilfracombe in North Devon.
Young Samuel’s familiarity with his father’s gilding
and framing business and its proximity to the
bustling docks had a natural influence on
Samuel, and he soon became an apprentice
to him.
Miles and Samuel left London for the port of
Liverpool about 1826, spending over a year in
Bristol on the way. In 1827 they collaborated on
their first marine painting, one of approximately
forty paintings they worked on together over
the next six years until Miles retired from art in the
mid 1830’s.
Shortly after arriving in Liverpool Samuel enrolled
at the Liverpool Mechanics School of Arts and in
November 1831 he joined the Royal Institution,
containing the Liverpool Academy Schools. The
previous year he had exhibited his first work at
the Academy, entitled “Dutch Boats in a Fresh
Breeze”. This was to be the first of 99 paintings
shown at the Academy over the next 35 years,
and on 7th November, 1837 he was made an
Associate Member. By now a well established
marine artist, on 12th August, 1845 Walters
suddenly resigned from the Academy and
returned to London. He was an admirer of
William John Huggins, marine painter to William
IV, and after Huggins died on 19th May that
year, Walters presumably thought he could take
up Huggins’ mantle; he had the same studio as
Huggins at 105 Leadenhall Street, where the well
known engraver Edward Duncan also worked.
The previous year Walters had exhibited his first
two paintings at London’s Royal Academy
However, his stay in London was short lived,
and in 1847 he returned to Liverpool, where he
continued to enjoy as much success as when he
had left. Indeed such was his popularity that he
was already producing a number of engravings
of his originals, before turning later to lithographs.
Walters had a considerable influence on other
important Liverpool marine artists including
Duncan McFarlane, Francis Hustwick, William
G.Yorke, and his son William H.Yorke. The leading
Liverpool marine artist for half a century, Walters
died in Liverpool on 5th March, 1882. Examples
of his work are in most major marine museums
throughout the world.
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