Harold Percival A.R.E

1868 - 1914

Percival was born in Brockley, Kent. He developed a career as a civil engineer engaged on the survey and construction of public works, including railways, docks and canals, and as resident engineer to Clevedon Pier and Torquay Harbour Extension. Meanwhile he pursued a parallel career as a marine artist, painting ship portraits. It is not recorded how and where he trained as an etcher, and the technical freedom and fresh individuality known plates suggests he was not overly laboriously tutored. However, it is clear that by 1905 Percival was well enough established as a printmaker to be elected an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers. Despite this, his prints rarely come to the market,