Charles Lees Allan Robertson, fl. 1847. Golf ball maker About 1847

Biography

Born 1800
Died 1880
Nationality Scottish
Birth place Cupar
Death place Edinburgh

Charles Lees was born in Cupar, Fife. He trained as a painter in Edinburgh with the eminent portraitist, Sir Henry Raeburn. After six months in Rome he returned to Edinburgh where he established himself as a portrait painter. Lees was elected a Royal Scottish Academician in 1830. From the 1840s Lees built himself a reputation as a specialist in depicting sporting subjects; 'The Golfers' was his first major sporting picture.