William Percy French was born in County Roscommon, Ireland in 1854. In addition to being a successful watercolour artist, he was also very well known as a composer and performer. He was brought up in England, but returned to Ireland to finish his education, and studied engineering in Trinity College, Dublin. He worked in his chosen profession, as a civil engineer, for the board of works in Co. Cavan. However, he spent the majority of his spare time painting, and composing songs. He subsequently left this position, to pursue his musical and artistic interests full-time. In addition to watercolour painting he produced a musical comedy, a comic opera and a full opera, all of which were performed in Dublin.