Ernest Charles Walbourn was born on 16 February 1872 at Dalston, Middlesex. The second of five children, he spent his childhood there and was educated locally.

His father wanted him to be an architect but he had other ideas and ran away from home, setting up residence in the local public house. After this his father relented and encouraged him in his artistic career converting a shed at the bottom of their garden into a studio. The family were moderately well off and owned some property in Tasmania, which provided an income for Ernest’s father and enabled the young artist to receive a formal art training.

Walbourn moved to Chingford, Essex and in 1895 exhibited for the first time at the Institute of Oil Painters (which later became the R.O.I). From that date on and for the next twenty-five years he was to exhibit regularly at the major exhibitions in London and the Provinces. He exhibited nine times at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions; typical titles for these works being “In the Orchard” 1900, “Summertime” 1917 and “The Mill” 1920.

In 1906 Ernest married Eva Knight who was to provide both help and encouragement in his career. She would often assist him in painting the backgrounds of the larger works and later became an accomplished amateur painter of garden scenes.