English painter Edward William Cook was born in London. His father and uncle were well-known engravers, and a boy from an early age has mastered their craft, and in the age of 18 independently carried out a series of engravings. In 1833 he began to paint in oils, particularly attracted marine themes.

In 1837, he went to travel, and visited first in Holland, and then followed by a trip to Scandinavia, Spain, Italy and North Africa. During his trip to the Isle of Wight, he observes life fishing villages, exploring the life of fishermen, their boats, their utensils, fishing tackle, beaches scattered with different stones, and doing a lot of sketches, which are then reflected in his oil paintings.

Cook was interested in not only the stones but also to plants. In 1840, he began to help his friend, gardener James Batman in setting up the famous gardens of Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire, so much so carried away that as a result of all the orchids and rhododendrons this garden was designed and planted them. I must say that Cook was not only an artist and gardener, but a scientist. He was a member of the Linnean Society, the Geological Society and the Society of antiquity. In 1863 he was elected to the Royal Society, and even became an academician in 1864.