Acclaimed by one critic as 'the modern Meissonier of British Domestic life', Charles Spencelayh was a painter of figure subjects, genre scenes and portraits. He has also been compared to William Powell Frith in his skilful evocation of sentiment and meticulous rendering of detail. He worked in many media achieving great acclaim as a miniaturist, watercolourist and etcher.

Charles Spencelayh was the son of Henry Spencelayh, an engineer and iron and brass founder. He was born in 1865 in Rochester, Kent.

He first studied at the National Art Training School (later renamed the Royal College of Art), where he won a prize for figure drawing. Spencelayh continued his training in Paris where he exhibit...