A beautifully painted landscape scene of cattle and figures near a Welsh mountain by Henry Brittan Willis. A herd of cows are shown resting on the side of a hill as a bull stands guard. To the right of the painting a herder and his wife, depicted in traditional Welsh dress, can also be seen taking their rest next to a white horse. In the background lies a mountainous landscape with the high peaks partially covered by clouds. In 1859, at the time of this painting, Willis was living at 7 Lidlington Place, St Pancras, London. He is known to have visited Dolgellau and Porthmadog in North Wales around this period and the location of the painting could well be that of the Snowdonia mountain range.

Henry Brittan Willis was born in Westbury on Trym, Bristol on 7 August, 1810, the son of John Aylburton Willis an artist and drawing master and his wife Ann (née Brittan). His older brother Edmund Aylburton Willis (1808-1899) also became an artist. Both brothers were taught art by their father and Willis spent his youth sketching the surrounding landscapes of his home city. He later began exhibiting in Bristol, becoming a member of the Bristol Art Society.

He married Elizabeth Broughton at Bristol on 31 august, 1837 and the couple initially lived with her father in Marlborough Hill, Bristol. After achieving limited success in Bristol, he decided to travel to America in 1842 where he spent time painting the scenery of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. After a bout of ill health, he returned to England in 1843 and moved to London where he lived at Stanhope Street, Regent's Park. He made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1844 and in the same year also began exhibiting at the Royal Society of British Artists. In 1847 began exhibiting at the British Institution and became a member of the Free Exhibitions society.

Willis travelled around the country painting the landscapes of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and North Wales. His works often featured animals such as cattle for which he became best known for. As well as working solo, he also collaborated with other artist such as Frederick William Hulme (1816-1884) who became a lifelong friend. In 1850 he moved to 7, Lidlington Place, St Pancras residing there until 1861 when he relocated to 5 Hereford Square in Kensington near to where his friend Hulme lived. In 1862 he was elected an associate of the Old Watercolour Society (RWS), becoming a full member in 1863.

By 1871 he had achieved success as an artist and moved to 12 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington. His success also enabled him to keep a house in Weston-Super-Mare where he often spent time, with his base remaining in Kensington. He died at his residence in Kensington on 17 January, 1884 after a short illness. Examples of his work are held in a number of public art collections including the Bristol Museum, Glasgow Museum, Leicester Museum, Nuneaton Museum, Royal Watercolour Society, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery, Shipley Art Gallery and York Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art