Samuel William Oscroft was born in Hyson Green, Nottingham on May 27th 1834. He became a student at the School of Design, then at Beck Lane, and finally at Waverley Street, gaining many prizes and medals. He designed a lace curtain which was placed on show at The Great Exhibtion of 1851, at that time he was only 15 years of age. He then designed for William Cope until he was 20, then moved to the firm of Heyman and Alexander, where he served as head designer for 30 years. In his spare time he developed his skills as watercolour landscape artist, and in 1901 he gifted a collection of his works showing scenes of Nottingham to the Art Gallery. He died on January 30th 1924 aged 90.
