William Monk (1863-1937) is known as one of the most significant architectural etchers to be born in Chester, Britain. Monk first studied art in his native Chester at the Chester School of Art and first began to etch at the Antwerp Academy in Belgium, where he first began to etch. Most of his etchings illustrate views of London, New York, Eton, Winchester and Durham.

Monk became an Associate of the Society of Painter-Etchers in 1984 (now the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers) and in 1899 was elected a full member. In the early twentieth century, his paintings and etchings were purchased by museums such as the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the War Museum, London.

A Vision of England: Etchings by William Monk
The 150th anniversary of a major Chester artist was celebrated at the city’s Grosvenor Museum with the exhibition ‘A Vision of England: Etchings by William Monk