At 14 he began to work for an uncle in Cockermouth who was a house, sign, and coach painter, but he learnt little from him.
Graves did some drawing, and at one time wished to study art, but his circumstances did not allow of this, and he became a woollen miller at Caldbeck.
The pen and ink being on the table, the idea of writing a song to this old air forced itself upon me, and thus was produced, impromptu, 'D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so grey'.
Graves was inventive and "brought to considerable perfection several machines--especially one for preparing the New Zealand flax".
Requesting the use of a ladder to finish painting the sky, he absconded over the wall and used his huntsman's technique to evade pursuing captors.
In 2024, Graves' body was one of nearly 2000 remains discovered during the construction of new buildings for The Hutchins School which is located on the former Queenborough Cemetery site.