[2] He started as a maritime artist, painting men-of-war and other ships on calm seas[3] in the style of Willem van de Velde,[4] many of whose drawings he owned.

[3] From 27 to 31 May 1732, he made a celebrated "Five days' Peregrination" to the Medway estuary and the Isle of Sheppey in company with William Hogarth and others.

[5][6] An account of their trip was written by Ebenezer Forrest and eventually published in 1782, with engravings taken from drawings by Hogarth and Scott.

Scott earned a considerable reputation for his shore and river scenes, which were well-drawn and painted, and enlivened with figures.

Horace Walpole, who had a large collection of his works, said that they "will charm in every age" and that "if he was second to Vandeveldt in sea pieces, he excelled him in variety."