Thomas Fisher

He was a prolific amateur watercolourist and antiquary whose work represents the last flowering of the 18th-century topographical tradition in watercolour painting. Born in Rochester, Kent, Fisher was not a native of Bedfordshire, but he developed a deep connection to the county through his friendships with local figures such as Henry Humphrey Goodhall and the Rev. Thomas Orlebar Marsh. These connections led to his introduction to Sir Gregory Page-Turner of Battlesden Park and the Duke of Bedford, both of whom purchased his drawings and watercolors. Fisher became dedicated to recording the monuments and landscapes of Bedfordshire, which he believed had been insufficiently documented.

Fisher's significant contribution to topographical art includes publishing two important histories of Bedfordshire. His watercolors are particularly notable for their portrayal of Bedfordshire scenes, making up over half of his surviving works. Despite being largely self-taught, Fisher's ability to capture the essence of his subjects in watercolor is evident, though his compositions occasionally reveal a degree of awkwardness and naivety, particularly in his handling of perspective.

An example of his work is a watercolor of an unnamed old house in Dunstable, with a butcher’s shop visible on the left. This scene showcases Fisher's characteristic style: while the composition is charming and detailed, it also exhibits the slight uncertainty typical of an artist still refining their technical skills. Fisher's work captures both the beauty of the English countryside and the evolving nature of topographical art in the late 18th century, with his personal touch bringing both a sense of historical record and artistic exploration to his subjects.