Biography for John White Abbott

Employment

John White Abbott spent most of his life in Exeter where he practised as a surgeon. Although he exhibiting oil paintings at the Royal Academy from 1793, he was never a professional artist. Through his uncle, James White, he enjoyed the company of artists and patrons such as Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) and Sir George Beaumont (1753-1827). He was a friend and pupil of the artist Francis Towne (1740-1816). Most of his watercolours are of Devon subjects. In 1791 he made his longest sketching tour outside the West Country visiting Scotland, the Lake District, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Lancashire. In 1797 and 1827 he toured Monmouthshire.