Coastal scene with horses and figures. William Shayer, Senior was born at Southampton and after spells at Guildford and Chichester had settled permanently in his native city by 1820. He is principally known for his Hampshire landscapes and animal painting, and his work is most closely associated with the New Forest. His work falls into two main categories: woodland scenes, populated with gypsies, animals and cheerful rustics and coastal scenes based around small boats, fishermen and their families. He exhibited at the Royal Academy between and 1820 and 1843, and at the British Institution. He was very prolific and examples of his work can be found in many provincial museums. Four of his sons are known to have worked as artists the two most successful being William Joseph Shayer (1811 - 1892) and Henry Thring Shayer (1825 - 1894). Overall size: 31 x 28 in Sight size: 25 1/2 x 22 1/2 in