W.H. Lizars (Born 1788) was the son of a renowned copperplate engraver and printer called Daniel Lizars. He was born in and was first apprenticed to his father. After that he proceeded to the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh where he studied under John Graham. Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh is an institution that was established to teach design and drawing for use in manufacture. The artist sought to establish himself as a painter, and he used to exhibit both genre paintings and portraits from 1805 to 1815. He also liked to travel a lot, and these travels became his greatest source of inspiration. His art was warmly received by viewers and critics. In 1812, two of his pictures were sent to the Royal Academy in London, which met with great success.
His images were engraved by Turner Charles and are thought to have influenced the identically titled works by Sir Wilkie David. In the same year, Lizars's father died and this forced him to ditch painting. However, in order to support his mother, he was forced to take over the family’s engraving and printing business. A background of extensive travel helped him to attract a network of loyal fans from which he grew his own standing as an artist. Growing in a humble family instilled in him a sense of dedication, humility and discipline that helped him to relate well with his clients and achieve much success. His images have been published in guidebooks, textbooks, calendars, magazines, and brochures all over the world.
