Career
He painted many scenes from life in and around Sunderland in the north of England. His paintings of local landmarks such as local castles and dockland scenes are now highly prized and several have been secured for local public galleries. Thompson moved to nearby Bishopswearmouth where he lived until his death in 1875.
Most of Thompson"s work arose from commissions from the local landed gentry for whom he executed many fine landscapes and topographical views, often recording the fine period country houses of the area for their owners.
Thompson"s work was highly prized by his patrons, largely because his style is similar to that of Thomas Sidney Cooper the famous painter of pastoral landscapes. Thompson used gentle, earth-toned palettes, with a natural sense of composition and a light, skilful technique.
Thompson exhibited his first works in London through the British Institution in 1865 and 1866, with pastoral landscapes, "The Trees above" Middleton" and “Sheep Walk, Cronkley Craggs,Teesdale".