Joseph had his first picture accepted for exhibition by the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, at age 14.
[2] Alfred studied at the Liverpool Academy of Arts and left for Melbourne, Australia, in 1887, to join his brother, who had made the journey a year earlier.
In 1891 they moved their studio to Mutual Chambers, King William Street, and had several art classes running.
[5] They had a sketching holiday in New Zealand in 1896, and on their return moved their studio to new premises in the Widows Funds Building, Grenfell Street.
[8] Joseph stayed longer in Australia, married and had several children, but he had great ambitions, and made several trips to South Africa, Canada and New Zealand painting, exhibiting and organising exhibitors for an exhibition of Dominion art in 1897, which was attended by the Prince of Wales, and 1898.
He married Josephine Yates née Smith (1865-) at Rooty Hill near Sydney on 4 Dec 1889.