Sam Walters was a prodigious worker, and fortunately for posterity many of his pictures are preserved in private and public collections both in the UK and elsewhere, particularly in the USA. Ranging from early examples, when still under the aegis of his father Miles Walters, to a launching commision of Cunard's first steel built liner RMS Servia in 1881 the scope and variety of his output compares favourably with any of his contemporaries. Steeped in the detailed anatomy and behavior of every sort of craft under all sorts of conditions of wind and weather, he was one of a small band of artists who elevated ship portraiture to a fine art form. To quote from the first exhibition ever devoted entirely to his works, held at Bootle in 1959, "Wherever there are men who follow the sea and whose interest lies in ships and sailors, there will also be found paintings or prints of this artist's work.

The simple headstone to his grave at Anfield Cemetry, Liverpool, bears the inscription "In loving memory of Samuel Walters/ Marine Artist of this City/ who died March 5th 1882/aged 70 years".

For more information about Samuel Walters click here