In December of that year he made his first public appearance as a singer at a concert in Bath, at which he performed an air composed by Rauzzini.

The Monthly Review continued: Mr. Bennett had long determined to make trial of the stage ; and, towards the end of the season, made his debut in the character of Prince Orlando, in the comic opera of The Cabinet.

His reception here was more flattering than at the concerts, and he made an engagement with the managers to play a few nights ; which he did, in the following characters: Don Carlos, in the Duenna; Young Meadows, in Love in a Village; Don Alphonso, in The Castle of Andalusia; Lord William, in the Haunted Tower; Paul, in Paul and Virginia; and Patrick, in The Poor Soldier—in all of which he gave much satisfaction.Just before the opening of the Hay-market theatre, in the same season, he received an offer to play six nights there, which he accepted; but to get up an opera was deemed impracticable, and he played the six nights in musical after-pieces.

"[2]He remained in Bath for some time, continuing to work as a miniature painter while studying music, and published a few compositions including a glee called "The Stars of the night arise", a duet for two voices, entitled, "Sweet warbling bird with dulcet note", and a song called "The Victory off Trafalgar".

He spent some years in Paris, where his talents won him the patronage and friendship of the Duc de Berri; but in 1844 he returned to Exeter, where, painting only as an amusement, he lived until his death, on 17 October 1858.