William Beilby

Beilby, along with his brothers Richard, Ralph and Thomas were sent to grammar school during their childhood. Soon the business of William senior failed, and in 1757 the whole family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne to start again. Beilby and his sister Mary (1749–97) worked as enamellers for local glass makers. Beilby was at once fascinated by the thriving glass industry about him, and it seems that it was at the Closegate in 1761 that Beilby became the first man in England to fire enamels into glass, so that they became virtually part of the glass itself. Beilby taught Mary to paint in enamels at the family workshop in Amen Corner by St Nicholas' Church, though she never matched the skill of her brother. A superb example of the latter is the 'Margaret and Winneford' bowl in the Laing Art Gallery. Beilby glasses can be found in great museums all over the world, and even when damaged are worth tens of thousands of pounds. Beilby and Mary worked together from 1760 to 1778. In 1767 the young Thomas Bewick joined the family as an apprentice to Ralph. Bewick and Mary developed an affection for each other, though Ralph did all he could to put obstacles in the way of the young pair. After Mary had a stroke in 1774, however, Bewick's ardour cooled. The family moved from Newcastle to London in 1778 and then to Scotland, where Mary died. Over this last period, the family produced no more glass, but Beilby painted more of his exquisite water colours. Eventually, he moved back to the family roots in Hull in 1810.

William Beilby is recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Recorded with the occupation glass artist. Recognition and collections.