Born in Belfast but raised in Ayrshire. Lavery began as a photographer's assistant before beginning his artist training in Glasgow and Paris. While abroad, he was much influenced by the realist school, particularly by the rustic naturalism of Jules Bastien-Lepage, and on his return, he naturally came to be associated with The Glasgow Boys. Lavery's work however, tended to reflect the middle classes at play (best seen in his 1885 painting, The Tennis Party), rather than the more rural themes of the others in the group. His stylish and highly original paintings proved to be immensely popular and attracted numerous important commissions, including those from royalty. In 1896, he moved to London and was much in demand for his portrait skills.