While employed there he made the acquaintance of the artist John Crome, who was the same age as him, then working for a house and sign-painter.

Ladbrooke painted portraits and Crome depicted landscapes, which they both sold for very small sums.

In 1803 Ladbrooke and Crome formed the Norwich Society of Artists, a group that also included Robert Dixon, Charles Hodgson, Daniel Coppin, James Stark and George Vincent.

Their first exhibition, in 1805, marked the start of the Norwich School of painters, the first art movement created outside London.

[2] Between 1804 and 1815 Ladbrooke was an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy, and until 1822 he exhibited works at the British Institution.

Ladbrooke painted chiefly of views of Norfolk scenery; but his reputation has never been more than local to this part of England.

He acquired a good reputation, especially for his moonlight scenes, and he exhibited occasionally at the British Institution and the Suffolk Street Gallery.