They lived at Castle Priory in Wallingford and her father arranged painting lessons for them starting at ten and ending at four.

Her father had first exhibited there thirty years before and they all continued as they were joined by her sister Edith in 1882 and Kate in 1885.

[4] Mary was the least prolific of the artist sisters as her paintings of children and domestic scenes were only at the academy until 1885.

[5] Her paintings which are rare are known for laden tea tables, they are included in For a Good Boy, Tennis Party and Breakfast.

[7] Mary married Henry Watkins Wells in 1887 and ceased exhibiting paintings.

[7] Her mother's relative was the nurse Edith Cavell who was shot by firing squad [1] and her eldest son, Henry Maurice Watkins Wells was also killed during World War One in 1916.