(1835 - 1906)
Walter Heath Williams was born in 1835 and enjoyed early success as a painter. He married Jane Pearcy, the daughter of a glass dealer, in 1857 and they lived in some style in Barnes, with Williams’ work being regularly shown at the Royal Academy. His wife also painted landscapes and some of her work was exhibited alongside that of her husband at the Society of Artists in London. However, Jane died at a young age and, following a second marriage, which was ended by his second wife’s premature death, Williams fell into poverty. He was living in a workhouse at the time of his death, at the age of 71.
