One of the few sources of information on painter George Budd is ‘Anecdotes of painters’, written by Edward Edwards and Horace Walpole (published 1808). It tells us that Budd, who was probably born in London, kept a hosier's shop before abandoning the business to devote himself to art. He painted a wide variety of subjects, including portraits, landscapes, and still lifes, mostly executed in oil. Budd studied at Dr Newcome's Academy in Hackney, Middlesex, and also gave drawing lessons. A portrait by him of shoemaker Timothy Bennett, was mezzotinted by W. McArdell in 1756. Budd’s painting of the execution of the earl of Kilmarnock and Lord Balmerino in 1746 was also engraved. However, the landscapes in oil painted by the artist are now lost.
