Publisher's Synopsis
We were members of a family of twelve children, and, with one exception, we were born at Wooler, Northumberland, the youngest having been born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Our father spent a great part of his time in horticultural pursuits, and in middle life took up art as a profession. He also held a commission in the Northumberland Militia. His sons, eight in number, inherited strong artistic tastes, which they all carried out professionally, except the youngest, Davison, who applied himself very successfully to commerce. The eldest, William, whose art work was chiefly devoted to heraldic and occasional ornamental decoration for MSS. books, also painted a little in still-life subjects with remarkable fidelity; while the second son, Robert, devoted himself to art, and obtained a fair reputation as a portrait painter.
