He worked for the illustrated magazine Punch in London[2] where, in 1877, he transformed several of Charles Decimus Barraud's watercolours into chromolithographs for publication.

[6] In 1885, he illustrated The white stone canoe: a legend of the Ottawas by James D. Edgar (Toronto News Company).

Blatchly is perhaps best known for his chromolithographic renderings of North West Rebellion battle-scene sketches such as the Capture of Batoche by F.W.

Curzon, "Special Artist" of the Canadian Pictorial and Illustrated War News, which were published by Grip P. & P. Co. and the Toronto Lithography Company in 1885.

[12] He exhibited his work at the Ontario Society of Artists in Toronto and was elected a member in 1885, remaining one until his death in 1903.