John William Upham was born in Offwell near Honiton, the son of a John Ford Upham and his first wife Honor. He was a pupil of Francis Towne who, although an obscure artist in his lifetime, is now recognised as one of the great watercolourists of that period. (The British Museum held a special exhibition of his work in 2016).

Upham moved to Weymouth in about 1800 where he taught at the National Schools, then in Great George Street. He painted and published a large number of views particularly of Dorset and of his native Devon. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1801 until 1812.