From Sailor to Art Legend: The Story Behind Alfred Wallis’s Remarkable Rise Revealed in New Biography

New Book Uncovers Untold Truths About One of Cornwall’s Most Iconic Artists

A new biography exploring the life of self-taught artist Alfred Wallis has just been released, offering the most detailed account yet of the former mariner who became one of Britain’s most beloved painters.

Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper To Artistic Luminary by Matilda Webb, published by Seadrift Press in April 2025, promises to reshape our understanding of the St Ives artist’s life and work. The richly illustrated book runs to 550 pages and includes 270 images, with 106 colour reproductions of Alfred’s paintings, previously unseen family photographs and historical visuals of the world he lived in.

Born in 1855, Alfred was largely unknown in the art world until he began painting at the age of 70, using salvaged materials and ship’s paint to bring to life the harbours, vessels and turbulent seas of his past. His raw, naïve style caught the attention of key figures in Britain’s early Modern Art movement, including Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood.

A life shaped by sea and struggle

Far from being a simple tale of late-life creativity, the book digs into the deeper layers of Alfred’s background. Matilda, who has a background in museum work and historical research, worked closely with Alfred’s descendants to piece together new information about his Cornish roots, his tough childhood, his time at sea and life on land.

The biography goes beyond well-worn stories, challenging many of the established narratives about Alfred’s relationship with the artists, collectors and critics of the 1930s. It gives readers a fuller view of how his life experiences directly influenced his work, from dramatic sea voyages to personal hardships.

A definitive edition for art lovers

Published as a high-quality hardcover edition, the book is being hailed as the definitive account of Alfred’s life. St Ives historian Tony Farrell, who is also Alfred Wallis’s step great-great-grandson, called it:

“Beautifully written, minutely researched and wonderfully illustrated – this book will stand as the definitive work on the life and art of Alfred Wallis.”

Where to buy it

Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper To Artistic Luminary is available now from www.alfredwallis.co.uk, or at St Ives Bookseller.