William Charles Rushton (1860 – 1921), Bingley

About the Artist

William Charles Rushton 1860-1921

This Bingley resident artist’s story is a remarkable one of perseverance in the face of tragedy and hardship. Born in Windhill, his father, a warp dresser, died the following year and William went to live with his grandparents, starting to work part time at 9 and full time from 11, as a spinner.

Despite his limited education at 15, he began to write poetry, and the following year, joined a theatrical group as a travelling actor. In 1879, aged 19, he returned home to Shipley work full -time as a wool-sorter in a local mill. However, by 1882 he had abandoned mill work to pursue a freelance career as a poet and artist. Married in 1884 his first daughter died at two in 1888 and his wife in 1896 at which point he re-married and seemingly enjoyed a longer period of domestic stability and artistic success, with his impressionistic paintings.