Staples was born in Dundee and began the study of architecture at the Catholic University of Leuven at the age of 12 followed by spells in Dresden, Paris and London where he trained as an artist.

Staples lived in Edwardian London and was in the Café Royal set that included Sir William Orpen, Lily Langtry, Sophie Guilbert and King Edward VII.

He was also involved in the establishment of the Grosvenor Gallery, founded by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche Fitzroy as an alternative exhibition space to the Royal Academy.

Other noted works include Cardinal Manning’s Last Reception (at the Archiepiscopal Palace of the Archbishop of Westminster), The Last Shot at Queen's Club (now in Worthing Museum & Art Gallery) and Gladstone Introducing the Home Rule Bill (now hanging in the House of Lords).

Its collection of his paintings was mostly sold in a studio auction at Phillips in London in 1991 which was organised by his granddaughter, Hazel Radclyffe Dolling, to fund restoration work.