Alfred Walter Williams

Alfred Walter Williams (18 July 1824 - 16 December 1905) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters.

Alfred Walter Williams was born on July 18, 1824 in Southwark, London, one of identical twins; the second twin, Charles dying shortly after birth. He was the sixth son of the painter Edward Williams (1781-1855) and Ann Hildebrandt (c.1780-1851), and a member of the Williams family of painters, who were related to such famous artists as James Ward, R.A. and George Morland. His father was a well-known landscape artist, who taught him how to paint; otherwise he received no formal instruction.

Alfred's work was first accepted by the Royal Academy in 1843, after which he regularly exhibited there, until 1890. Like his siblings he also exhibited at the Society of British Artists, renamed the Royal Society of British Artists in 1887. With the improved fortunes of Edward Williams' family, they moved in 1846 from Cromer Street to 32 Castlenau, Barnes in Surrey. There the large coach house was put to use as a family studio. The house exists to this day as 92 Castlenau. With the growing fame of the family they were known as the Williams School of painters or simply as the Barnes School.

Alfred had a close friendship with his brother Sidney Richard Percy and his wife, and he boarded with them in 1857 for a while at their home Florence Villa, in Wimbledon. Alfred Williams exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1843-1891 and works exhibited included scenes of the Thames,

Around 1860 Alfred settled in Reigate in Surrey. He is recorded in the 1861 census as boarding with Mr and Mrs Fitzsimon and in 1870 was at Mead Vale in Redhill, Surrey. In 1895 he had moved to 40 Croydon Road, Reigate, close to his brother, Arthur Gilbert who lived in Limpsfield. He died at 31 Francis Road, Croydon.