Walter Richard Sickert was born in Munich on 31 May 1860 of an Anglo-Irish mother and a Danish father. In 1868 the family emigrated to England.

Sickert entered the Slade School of Fine Arts in 1881, but left the following year to become the pupil and assistant of Whistler, from whom he learned the elements of etching and engraving which were to form an important part of his oeuvre. In his early years he was in the habit of using small copper plates instead of a sketch-book, and would carry them around in his pocket, recording scenes from life directly onto the plate.

He travelled frequently to France, especially to Dieppe, where he lived for two years following the death of his second wife. He also made several visits to Venice, which resulted in fine etchings of Venetian scenes.

From 1909 to 1914 he ran an etching school near his studio in Camden Town, where many of his own etchings were printed by his pupil, the artist Sylvia Gosse.

In 1911 he formed the Camden Town Group, and found many of his subjects in the working class surroundings of the area. He had had a brief career as an actor in his youth, and his continuing fascination with the theatre resulted in many vivid images of theatre subjects, particularly music-hall performers and audiences..

In 1925 Sickert was elected Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-etchers and Engravers, with whom he had first exhibited forty years earlier.The following year he married his third wife, the painter Therese Lessore.

The ensuing years brought further honours including Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Manchester and Reading. In 1927 he was elected President of the Royal Society of British Artists, and Royal Academician in 1934. He died in Bathampton on 22 January, 1942.

Biography

1860 Walter Richard Sickert was born in Munich on 31 May of an Anglo-Irish mother and a Danish father.

1868 the family emigrated to England.

1881 Sickert entered the Slade School of Fine Arts but left the following year to become the pupil and assistant of Whistler, from whom he learned the elements of etching and engraving which were to form an important part of his oeuvre

1909-14 ran an etching school near his studio in Camden Town, where many of his own etchings were printed by his pupil, the artist Sylvia Gosse.

1911 ormed the Camden Town Group, and found many of his subjects in the working class surroundings of the area. He had had a brief career as an actor in his youth, and his continuing fascination with the theatre resulted in many vivid images of theatre subjects, particularly music-hall performers and audiences..

1925 Sickert was elected Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-etchers and Engravers, with whom he had first exhibited forty years earlier.The following year he married his third wife, the painter Therese Lessore.

1927 elected President of the Royal Society of British Artists,

1934 elected a Royal Academician

1942 died in Bathampton on 22 January