Honiton remembers renowned artist Ozias Humphry - Margaret Lewis

Under the headmastership of the Reverend Richard Lewis, Ozias was educated at Allhallows School and at the age of 15 he went to London to study art at the St Martin's Lane Academy but returned to Honiton when his father died in 1759.

The wording in George Humphry’s will was really unusual for the time – it states ‘From the great confidence I repose in Elizabeth Humphry my wife I commit the sole care of my two sons Ozias and William to her peculiar care and management to bring them up and educate them in such a manner and to such trades, businesses or professions as their natural genius and propensity shall lead or direct them I give unto each of my said sons £20 each to be paid to either of them at twenty one’.

Soon afterwards Ozias went to Exeter and practiced portrait painting, but in 1762 he moved to Bath as an apprentice to Samuel Collins the miniature painter and he also worked in Thomas Gainsborough’s studio.

A year later Ozias moved to London where his mentor and friend, Sir Joshua Reynolds, who procured him his first royal commission, for which he was paid the sum of 100 guineas. Ozias Humphry’s greatest talent was as a miniaturist, and after George III commissioned him to paint the Queen, he was in great demand as one of the leading miniaturists of the day. In 1792 he was appointed portrait-painter in crayons to the King.

The painting entitled ‘Study from Thomas Bonner - A Begger’ is on display in Honiton Museum and was painted by Ozias when he was in London in 1779.

Following an accident when he fell from his horse Ozias’ eyesight was badly damaged. Eventually by 1797 he had lost his sight altogether. No longer able to paint, he lived out his remaining years in quiet seclusion. Ozias died in Thornborough Street, London on March 9th, 1810 and was buried at St James' Chapel in the Hampstead Road. He bequeathed all his correspondence and engravings to his illegitimate son and heir William Upcott.