Samuel Shelley was an English miniaturist and watercolour painter.

Largely self-educated, Samuel Shelley was a leading miniaturist, i.e., painter of portrait miniatures

Portrait miniature

A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...

, of his time, ranking with Cosway

Richard Cosway

Richard Cosway was a leading English portrait painter—more accurately a miniaturist—of the Regency era. He was a contemporary of John Smart, George Engleheart, William Wood, and Richard Crosse...

, Smart

John Smart

John Smart , was an English painters of portrait miniatures. He was a contemporary of Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, William Wood and Richard Crosse.-Biography:He was born in Norfolk, but not much is known of his early life...

, and Crosse

Richard Crosse

Richard Crosse was a leading English painter of portrait miniatures. He was a contemporary of John Smart, George Engleheart, Richard Cosway and William Wood.-Family and home:...

. In addition to his portraits, he also painted in water-colours fancy figures and compositions from Shakespeare, Tasso, and other poets. His water-colours and miniatures were engraved by Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London.He was born in Florence...

, William Nutter, Caroline Watson, and others. In 1804 Shelley joined with W. F. Wells

William Frederick Wells

William Frederick Wells was an English watercolour landscape painter and etcher.Wells was born in London in 1762. Wells studied art in London under John James Barralet . On 20 November 1804, Wells initiated the founding of a watercolour painters society at a meeting at the Stratford Coffee House,...

, Robert Hills, W. H. Pyne

William Henry Pyne

William Henry Pyne was an English writer, illustrator and painter. He trained at a drawing academy in London. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790. He specialized in picturesque settings including groups of people rendered in pen, ink and watercolour...

, and six other artists to found the Watercolour Society

Royal Watercolour Society

The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...

(afterwards known as the "Old" society), of which he was treasurer until 1807,