Born in London, Edmund Gill was highly successful during his lifetime and made a speciality of painting waterfalls, which earned him the nickname 'Waterfall Gill'.  He met David Cox in 1841 in Birmingham, which was to prove an inspiration to him.

He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1842 and he continued to show there until 1886.  He lived at various time in London, Ludlow and Hereford.

Much of his subject matter is taken from the landscape of Wales and Scotland ; this example was probably painted in North Wales.