Friends of Hastings Cemetery

William Henry Borrow left Hastings to study painting in London at Leigh's school where his principal tutor was the Marine painter, James Danby.  He seems to have returned to Hastings around 1875 (other sources – 1874, 1877)  In 1869 he married a Hastings local girl, Mary Wingfield in London

His annual exhibition at Carlisle Parade became a feature of town life and gave pleasure to thousands.

He is recorded as living at 9 High Wickham, 2 Braybrooke Road, 7 St Helens Terrace and 88 St Helen's Road, where he died in 1905, aged 64.

After his death his daughter Fanny held an exhibition in 1955 at the Yelton Hotel, of the works which were in his studio at the time of his death.  There were 59 watercolours and thirty oils, with subject matter ranging from

Cornwall to Holland and back to Hastings.

Many of Borrow's paintings were reproduced as postcards and can still be bought today.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy, in London, between 1863 and 1890.  His subjects were mostly coastal scenes in Devon and Cornwall.  He also produced a string of paintings with Hastings titles, and these include High Tide, near Hastings. Landing the Catch, Hastings; A Rough Sea, Hastings; Low tide painted by at least 1885 and showing Hasting Pier, opened 13 years before.  The Storm at Hastings, painted in February 1890, is one of his last known paintings.  

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