Benjamin Williams Leader

Artist Biography

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Benjamin Williams Leader derived his artistic inspiration directly from nature and in particular his native countryside of Worcester. After visiting Scotland and Wales, he painted mainly landscapes, often of mountain and river scenes.

In 1857 Benjamin Williams Leader changed his name from Benjamin Leader Williams (he was related to the Williams family of painters) to Benjamin Williams Leader. This also helped avoid confusion with the eleven other artists of the same surname who exhibited at the Royal Academy.

His picture 'A Stream from the Hills' was commended by Ruskin in 1857, and his work entitled 'Temptation' was purchased by the successful artist, Thomas Creswick, R.A. In 1863 the Prime Minister W E Gladstone bought his painting of 'The Churchyard at Bettws-y-Coed'. As a result of this Leader was flooded with commissions. Benjamin Williams Leader spent a great deal of his time during these years painting in Wales, and some of his Welsh landscapes were greatly admired at The Royal Academy and placed beside works by the President, Sir Francis Grant.

Benjamin Williams Leader exhibited: Royal Academy. Museums: Blackburn, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Victoria & Albert Museum, The Tate Gallery, Manchester, Reading, Sheffield and Melbourne

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