John Sell Cotman was born in Norwich, the son of a haberdasher. He moved to London in 1798. Although he had little formal training, he became part of the circle around Tom Girtin. He travelled much in Wales and spent part of each year from 1803 to 1805 in Yorkshire, as drawing tutor to the Cholmondley family. It was here that his best-known watercolour, “Greta Bridge”, was painted. The version in the British Museum dates from 1805 ; there is a later painting (1810) of the same subject in the Castle Museum at Norwich. He returned to his native city in 1805, and spent much time in Normandy, but returned to London in 1834 when he obtained the post of Professor of Drawing at King’s College. Along with John Crome, he is regarded as the co-leader of the Norwich school. (bio by: Iain MacFarlaine)