Wych Street, Strand, London

Louise Rayner was born at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire where she spent her childhood before moving with her parents to London in 1842. She began painting in watercolour as a teenager, being taught by her parents and their artist friends. In 1852 she exhibited interior scenes in oil at the Royal Academy and in 1860 her first watercolours of street scenes were shown at the Society of Women Artists and the Society of British Artists. The family moved to Brighton in 1858, but returned to London in the mid 1860s.

Rayner painted many British cities repeatedly throughout her long career, she is best known for her views of Chester, Edinburgh and London. Rayner executed another version of this watercolour, which was sold, Sotheby's, London, 25 January 1988, lot 198.