oseph Syddall came from the village of Old Whittington, near Chesterfield, and studied at Hubert von Herkomer's art school in Bushey, Hertfordshire. He was responsible for a number of illustrations which appeared in Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' in 'Graphic Magazine' in the 1890s. His work was also displayed at the Royal Academy, London between 1898 and 1910. Syddall produced a number of works in pastel, watercolour and pencil as well as oil. A large number of his paintings are held by the Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery, Derbyshire, also gifted by the artist's lifelong partner, Miss Annea Spong.