Original works of art

Born in Watford, Richard was the eldest son of Richard Davis, huntsman to the Royal Harriers, and brother of Charles, huntsman of the Royal Buckhounds. Davis showed early signs of artistic talent. At the insistence of George .II, Sir Francis Bourgeois took him as a pupil. As early as 1802-03 the Royal Academy accepted three of his landscapes. He continued his training at the Royal Academy schools under Sir William Beechey. He became an animal painter of considerable merit, well patronised by Court and nobility. Even so he was not elected Associate of the Royal Academy and from then on turned to the Society of British Artists. He worked sometimes in watercolors and exhibited 70 works at the Royal Academy.