His work focused on country landscapes and animals, particularly horses, and is notable for its detailed faithfulness to location and accuracy of representation.

As a result, in his adult life he was able to leave the more robust careers of doctor, farmer and architect to his younger brothers while he pursued the development of his skills as a graphic artist and naturalist.

His first work to be displayed at the Royal Academy (in 1877) was an oil painting entitled Field Mice, which sold for 25 guineas, a substantial price for an unknown emerging artist.

Despite the diagnosis of weak health, he lived to the age of 83 and only died in 1929 as the result of an accident while out driving a pony and trap.

His fortes were animals, both domestic and wild, country scenes, trees and, distinctively, low-light and night-time subjects.