Three paddle-steamers, âKingstonâ, âPrince Frederickâ and âCalderâ of Selby in Hull Roads
The artist served his apprenticeship as a painter in the George Yard workshop of Thomas Meggitt (1779- 1858). Never developing a distinctive personal style, Binks often collaborated with another of Meggittâs apprentices, William Griffin (fl. 1800-50). This picture is more than likely one of their joint productions when they were still apprentices, with Binks being responsible for the sea and Griffin, the steamers. The Paull waterfront appears on the left in the background and the Lincolnshire coast on the right. The Hull Roads were mid-river in the deepest stretch of water. They were the most navigable passage in the Humber - ships were unlikely to run aground. They could also anchor here if they did not want come into the port. The âKingstonâ was the first locally built steamship to enter sea-going service. Binks and Griffin were the first local artists to paint the early Humber steamers.
