Born in Coleraine, Co. Derry, educated there and at College of Design, Belfast. He exhibited at the RA from 1889, having moved to London in 1883. His costume pieces were very popular and were exhibited widely in England. He was responsible for the painting, in 1927, of the sailor's head on the cigarette packets of John Player and Son.

Source: Auctions

McCormick was born in Coleraine and studied at the Government School of Design, Belfast. He later traveled to London working with the Illustrated London News among other publications. In 1889, from Trafalgar Studios, McCormick exhibited for the first time with the Royal Academy, London. This would be the beginning of a 30-year relationship with the institution.

Snoddy records the artist's address from 1895 as 58 Queen's Road, St. John's Wood; the artist resided at this address for over 40 years. The theme of pirates began to appear in the oeuvre at the turn of the century and the RA index of exhibitors lists two such works shown with them in 1903 and 1904. Among the artist's best-known commissions was the iconic sailor's head and shoulders on the cigarette packets for tobacco manufacturers, John Player & Son in 1927.

His works can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum, Imperial War Museum and the Borough Council, Coleraine among others.

For further reading see Snoddy p.370-372.