Samuel Walters

Samuel Walters was a maritime artist and member of the Liverpool School of Marine Art. Born in London, his father, Miles Walters, was a master tradesman and marine artist. Growing up close to the docks, Walters served as an apprentice in his father’s gilding and framing business.

Father and son left London for the port of Liverpool in about 1826, spending over a year in Bristol on the way. In 1827, they collaborated on their first marine painting, one of approximately 40 paintings they worked on together over the next six years.

Shortly after arriving in Liverpool, Walters 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, in 1837, he was made an Associate. By now a well-established marine artist, in August of 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 in May of that year, Walters hoped to take Huggins’s place.

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. His popularity was such 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.

Walters died in Liverpool in 1882. Examples of his work are in most major marine museums throughout the world.