David Cox (1783-1859). Born in Heath Mill Lane, Deritend, Birmingham, the only son of Joseph Cox, blacksmith and Frances Walford. In 1798 he was apprenticed to Fieldler, a miniature painter. Began work as a scene-painter at Astley's Theatre. Moved to London and took lessons from John Varley (1778-1842). Visited Wales in 1805 and produced his earliest dated watercolours and exhibited at the Royal Academy. In 1810 became President of Associated Artists in Water Colour. Elected Associate of the Society of Painters in Water Colour in 1812 and in 1813 elected to the Old Water-Colour Society where he exhibited almost every year until his death. In the same year he published his Treatise on Landscape Painting. Around 1814 appointed to Military Staff College, Farnham as a drawing master and also at Miss Croucher's girls' school. Lived in Hereford. In 1816 published Progressive Lessons on Landscape and in 1819, Young Artist' s Companion. Visited Belgium in 1826. In 1839 sold two watercolours to Marquis of Conyham for Queen Victoria.
His favourite area for painting was always North Wales, but painted the West Country and Northern Counties of England. Visited France in 1829 and 1832. Friend of George Cattermole. Exhibited eighteen works at the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition of 1857 including: Lancaster Sands, Weald of Kent, On the Wye, Hop Gatherers, A Harvest Time in Wales, and Welsh Funeral. Studio sale took place at Christie's on 3-5 May 1873. His son David (1809-1895) was also a landscape painter in watercolour and an Associate of the Society of Painters in Water Colours. Ruskin 's largly appreciative attitude to Cox in Modern Painters I, was not sustained (see Ruskin's criticism of Cox). John James Ruskin bought a number of works by Cox, including Water -Mill near Dolbenmaen, in 1837, White Horse, in 1840, and Bolsover Castle, and Fern, both purchased in 1842.