W.R. - William Ralston (1848-1911 )

W.R. – William Ralston (1848-1911 ) Scottish artist and photographer born in Dumbarton, Ralston moved with his family to Glasgow at an early age. Recognition came when he had a drawing accepted by the editor of Punch, and he contributed humorous drawings, often on military subjects, to the magazine for many years.

He came to Victoria during the goldrush, probably in 1854. A pair of illustrations after his sketches called Christmas in Australia and individually titled Home, Sweet Home and Pudding Time appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1870.

On the death of his father, he returned to Glasgow to take over the family photography business, Ralston & Sons. By 1873 Ralston was working in London as an illustrator for Punch . He showed four of his Punch illustrations at London exhibitions between 1875 and 1881. Nine of his Victorian sketches appeared in the Australasian Sketcher (Melbourne) in 1879 as Digging Life 25 Years Ago . He also continued to contribute to The Graphic until his death in 1911.