Born in London into a family of artists and living much of his life in Greenwich, Alfred De Breanski, Sr., was a well known landscape painter of Welsh and Scottish scenes, especially lochs in the highlands at sunset, bathed in light. Often his paintings had water and sheep or cattle grazing and perhaps a solitary figure in the distance. Later in his career, he painted views of the Thames as well as one of Windsor Castle. In 1880, he began spending much time in London where he was a Freeman of the City of London.

He was married to Annie Roberts, a noted Welsh artist whom he met on painting trips to Wales. The couple had seven children including two sons, Gustave and Alfred who also became kn...