Prout was an English painter and watercolourist who is best known for his topographical drawings in which he depicted scenes both in towns and the countryside. He was born in Plymouth in 1873 and in1802 travelled to London to study the topographical drawings of artists such as JMW Turner. Here, he was commissioned to make drawings for a book entitled Beauties of England and Wales and on the success of this, received further private commissions.

In 1819, Prout travelled to Europe where he painted ancient architecture and picturesque villages. He became known for his unusual artistic style in which he made detailed and strongly outlined studies, and filled them in with watercolour paint. His work was popular in the 1800s and it was lithographed (printed from drawings on stone) for mass production.