Balmer was born in
North Shields,
Northumberland, the son of a house painter. He initially followed his father's trade, but eventually took up art, coming under the influence of the work of
John Wilson Ewbank (c.1779-1847). His earliest works were exhibited in
Newcastle and attracted attention; he followed up this initial success with a large picture called
A View of the Port of Tyne. In 1831 he exhibited some
watercolours, again in Newcastle, of which one,
The Juicy Tree Bit, was thought the best in the rooms. In collaboration with
John Wilson Carmichael he painted
The Heroic Exploit of Admiral Collingwood at Trafalgar. In 1832 or 1833 he made a tour of the continent, travelling by way of
Holland to the
Rhine and Switzerland, and returning by way of Paris where he stayed for several months, copying from the works of the masters in
The Louvre. Returning to England, he settled in London, exhibiting pictures of the Rhine, coast scenes, and moonlight views – a large
View of Bingen and one of
Haarlem Mere, being amongst the best. In 1836, in the employ of
William Finden, Balmer began a publication called
The Ports and Harbours of England. Although he produced many drawings for the book, it was never realised to the full extent that he had originally envisaged. He retired from London in 1842, and gave up painting. He died near
Ravensworth, in Durham on 10 April 1846. ==Notes==