At the age of twenty he became an assistant to Andrew Robertson (1777–1845), the eminent Scottish miniature-painter, and, although his first ambition was to excel in historical painting, he thought it advisable to concentrate on the more lucrative speciality of miniature-painting. He soon acquired a sizeable and elite clientele.
At the age of twenty he became an assistant to Andrew Robertson (1777–1845), the distinguished Scottish painter of miniatures, and, although his initial aspiration was to excel in historical painting, he deemed it prudent to focus on the more profitable specialty of miniature-painting. He quickly gained a substantial and high-society clientele.