Robert Johnson was an apprentice of Thomas Bewick in his Newcastle upon Tyne workshop.
Background
Born at Shotley Bridge, near Ovingham, Northumberland, he was son of a joiner and carpenter, who shortly afterwards removed to Gateshead. Through his mother, who was acquainted with Thomas Bewick, Johnson was in 1788 apprenticed to Ralph Beilby and Bewick in Newcastle, to learn copperplate-engraving.
Career
Bewick taught him wood engraving, but discovered Johnson"s talent for sketching in watercolour directly from nature. Johnson mainly occupied himself in sketching from nature in water-colours. On the expiration of his apprenticeship, he abandoned engraving, and took up painting.
Johnson died at Kenmore, Perthshire, on 26 October 1796, in his twenty-sixth year.
He was buried in Ovingham churchyard, where a monument was erected to his memory by his friends.