Josiah Wood Whymper (Ipswich 24 April 1813 – 7 April 1903 Haslemere) was a British wood-engraver, book illustrator and watercolourist.
Early life and education
Born the son of a brewer, Whymper was apprenticed to a stonemason. He soon turned to drawing and painting, settled in London in 1829 and studied under William Collingwood Smith (1815–1887).
Career as illustrator
After having an etching of London Bridge published, he became well known as an illustrator and worked for Black (for the 1857 edition of poetic works of Walter Scott), John Murray, Cassell and other publishers. His wood-engraving enterprise became one of London's most successful. He also painted watercolours, specialising in riverscapes, and gave drawing classes to pupils such as Charles Keene (1823–1891), John William North (1842–1924), George John Pinwell (1842–1875) and Frederick Walker (1840–1875).
