Walter Heath Williams was a British artist predominantly known for gentle rolling views of Devon and Cornwall. Details of his life are scant despite the fact he exhibited regularly for over 20 years at the Royal Academy. He’s often confused with Walter Williams (1834-1906) who was a member of the Williams family of painters but their approach was quite different.

He lived in Bath, Torquay and Topsham, Devon but, despite an extensive search, the ancestry records yield no results. With this in mind, it’s possible that he (or she) was working under a pseudonym.

Exhibited

Royal Academy, British Institution, Royal Society of British Artists.

Public Collections

Government Art Collection (British Embassy in Luxembourg), Erewash Borough Council, Harris Museum & Art Gallery.

Timeline

1844

Lived at 15 Trim Street, Bath. Jane Austen was a former resident of the same street.
Debuted at the Royal Society of British Artists (Suffolk Street) with ‘A View from Hampton Cliffs, Bath’. He exhibited a total of 55 works over 32 years.

1845

Debuted at the British Institution with ‘Twilight on the Avon, Near the Aqueduct, Bath.’ He exhibited a total of 40 works over 22 years.
Debuted at the Royal Academy with ‘Sunset-View on the Avon, Keynsham, between Bath and Bristol’. He exhibited a total of 34 works over 22 years.

1846

Lived at 1 Pulteney (or Pulteney Bridge), Bath.

1849

Lived at 3 Geneva Cottages, Torquay.

1852

Lived at 1 Geneva Cottage, Torquay.

1854

Lived in Topsham, Devon.

After 1876

Died.