Archibald Thorburn

The son of Robert Thorburn, portrait miniaturist to Queen Victoria, Archibald Thorburn was born at Lasswade, Midlothian. He was educated at Dalkeith and Edinburgh and as a youngman came to London where he met and was encouraged by Joseph Wolf. His first Royal Academy picture, ‘On the Moor’ was accepted when he was only twenty.

His first major assignment was to provide 144 colour illustrationsfor Walter Swaysland’s ‘Familiar Wild Birds’. Then in 1987 he was commissioned by Lord Lilford to illustrate ‘The Birds of the BritishIslands’. His deftness of touch can also be seen in his botanical studies. He wrote and illustrated five books and many of hisworks were reproduced as prints.

The Tryon held the first Exhibition dedicated to his work in 1960, which was an huge success, followed by other solo shows in 1965, 1984 and 1987. Over the years his paintings of birds and deer have become amongst the most collected examples of sporting art.

He and his wife moved from London to Hascombe, near Godalming at the beginning of World War I and he died there, after a long illness, in 1935.

The Tryon continues to source and exhibit his work whenever possible.