Newcastle University

Thomas Bewick (1753-1828): A Biographical Overview

Thomas Bewick was born at Cherryburn, near Mickley in Northumberland in August 1753, to John (1715-85) and Jane Bewick (née Wilson). He was the eldest of eight children and a wilful and mischievous young boy, who much preferred to investigate the surrounding countryside than attend the local school in Mickley.

At the age of ten Thomas was sent across the river to be educated at Ovingham, under the guidance of the Reverend C. Gregson. It was here that he first began to display his considerable talent for close observation and drawing. Chalk drawings of local woodland scenes and animals continually appeared on his slate and in the margins of his books. And, as Bewick later recalled:


Eventually, Bewick's inclination for drawing found an outlet when, at fourteen, Thomas became an apprentice for the Newcastle engraver Ralph Beilby (1743-1817). His fine eye for detail and industrious temperament meant that he was ideally suited to his new occupation. After acquiring his basic skills in engraving by first working with the hard elements of silver and copper and other more 'coarse' materials, Bewick was employed to make cuts on wood for a number of local printers. As it happened, Bewick's master Ralph Beilby displayed little talent in this area of engraving and all subsequent requests for work on wood were directed to his apprentice. From this point on, Bewick's talent as an engraver flourished:


Bewick's reward of seven guineas and the praise of friends and neighbours must have greatly encouraged the young apprentice to continue to develop his skills as an engraver. Indeed, after his apprenticeship finished in 1774, Bewick returned home to Cherryburn where for two years he continued to execute woodcuts for local printers and book-sellers.

In October 1776, Bewick moved to London in search of work. However, his time in the capital was short-lived, as he found London not to his taste. Despite his growing reputation and ability to earn large amounts of money, Bewick quickly resolved to quit London, determined to return to the more rural “paradise” of his native Tyneside.

Returning to Newcastle in June 1777, Bewick reluctantly entered into a partnership with his old employer, Ralph Beilby continuing his work as an engraver. Now, as a partner and a master-craftsman he was able to take on his own apprentices including taking his brother, John Bewick as his first apprentice.

In April 1786, Bewick married Isabella Elliot, a local girl from the village of Ovingham. Bewick had been careful not to marry whilst his parents were alive, but his union with Isabella appears to have been happy. In 1781, Thomas had taken over the tenancy of a house in the Forth area of Newcastle (what is now Bewick Street), and it was here that Isabella gave birth to the couple's four children; Jane, Robert, Isabella and Elizabeth. Thomas was a devoted father and husband and clearly enjoyed is role in family life.

Bewick's workshop continued to produce the highest quality engravings on both metal and wood and from the profits Thomas and his family moved to West Street in Gateshead, in 1821. By this time Thomas was almost seventy years of age and had given over the day-to-day running of the business to his son Robert.

But he remained very active and he decided to pursue another major publication, this time on British fishes. Thomas had been a keen angler since his youth and had enjoyed many trips down to the river Tyne. But despite his enthusiasm for the project, Thomas only managed to complete relatively small number of woodcuts and tailpieces before he fell gravely ill. In 1828, only two years after the death of his wife Isabella, Thomas Bewick died. Bewick's love for his childhood home remained strong throughout his life and fittingly he was buried next to his wife in Ovingham churchyard.