Robert Cleveley invariably features in any survey of British sea painters, as does his twin brother John (1747-1786), and yet little is known about his life other than the oft-repeated anecdote that he left his work as a caulker in Deptford dockyard to go to sea. In the 1780s he enjoyed the title, Marine Painter to HRH the Duke of York, as well as Marine Draughtsman to the Duke of Clarence, producing watercolours associated with various visits made by this latter, the sailor, friend of Nelson and future King William IV. Perhaps the highpoint of Cleveley’s career, the exhibition in Bond Street of his paintings of Howe’s victory at the Battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794 is well known through both preparatory watercolours and engravings after the oils. From the few examples known, Robert Cleveley was clearly an adept painter in oils, and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy for more than twenty years The last, rather terminal chestnut usually trotted out is that Cleveley died after falling from cliffs at Dover!