William Lee-Hankey was born in Chester and after leaving school he worked as a designer while attending evening art classes at the Chester School of Art under Walter Schroeder. Lee-Hankey later studied at the Royal College of Art before becoming a renowned painter and print-maker.
From the early1890s Lee-Hankey exhibited at numerous and notable art galleries, which included the Leicester and Lefevre Galleries, the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters as well as the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers/Painter-Printmakers. In 1886 he became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, in 1909 an associate member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers and a full member in 1911 in 1896 he became a member of the Royal Institute and was President of the London Sketch Club from 1902 – 1904. Lee-Hankey later became a member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 1936, becoming the Vice-President in 1947 while also becoming the Chairman of the Empire Art Council in the late 1940s.
Lee-Hankey was drafted into the Army during World War One serving in the Artists’ Rifles from 1914 – 1916 before returning to painting at the close of war in France. The work that was produced during his time in France mainly consisted of French harbour scenes and country life, which provided him with a notable reputation.
Lee-Hankey won a gold medal at the Barcelona International Exhibition and a bronze medal in Chicago. His work is housed in private and public collections nationally including the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum as well as several British provincial galleries and galleries in Budapest, Belfast and Vienna.

Exhibited:-

Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham x 1

Connell and Sons Gallery x 40

Fine Art Society x 150

Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts x 18

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool x 104

Lefevre Gallery x 113

Leicester Gallery x 359

Royal academy x 74

Royal Society of British Artists x 43

Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers x 80

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours x 42

Royal Institute of Oil Painters x 69

Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours x 125

Arthur Tooth and Sons Gallery x 42

Walker’s Gallery, London x 33