Edward Robert Smythe, was born at Berners Street, Ipswich in 1810, son of James Smyth (1780-1863) and his wife Sarah Harriet née Skitter; James, who was an accountant with the bank Bacon, Cobbold, Durningham & Cobbold in Tavern Street, Ipswich added the final 'e' to his surname.

Edward attended the school of Robert Burcham Clamp [q.v.] and had a liking for a military career but his love of art took his fancy. Elected a member of the Ipswich Society of Professional and Amateur Artists on 1 March 1832 and attended his first meeting on 18 November the same year and was probably working under Henry Davy [q.v.] and where he met many local artist members.

In his younger days he had a studio in the Old Shire Hall, Ipswich where...