Henry Bright 1810-1873

A native of Saxmundham Suffolk Bright was the son of a clock and watchmaker in the town. At around fifteens his father apprenticed him to a pharmacist in Woodbridge. He moved to Norwich continuing as a pharmacist, but growing into the active painting scene and taking lessons from John Berney Crome. His final pharmacy post was at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. 

He married in 1835, and moved to London a year later to open a studio and drawing practice. 1837 saw his first picture exhibited at the British Institute, one of twenty six he exhibited there. His first success at the Royal Academy was in 1843, a watercolour from his travels along the Rhine (he travelled widely often with other artists). He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1871. His most prestigious sale was the exhibited oil 'Entrance to an Old Prussian Town' (1844) sold to Queen Victoria.

In London, Bright continued to develop his practice and his painting gained acclaim from Ruskin amongst others and he sold pictures to many other artists (a more tangible form of praise for his work). Rarely he appeared to be able to mange his affairs very well blending artistic ability with business acumen . After many years in which he built one of the most successful drawing schools and having exhibited widely he returned first to Norwich then finally to the county of his birth Ipswich Suffolk. He died here on 21st Sept 1873.