Overview
Storey, a native Londoner, began his artistic education in Paris before returning to London, where he briefly worked for an architect. He then studied under J. M. Leigh and J. L. Dulong. In 1852, Storey began exhibiting his works at the Royal Academy (RA), and by 1854, he was studying at the Academy. During this period, he encountered members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, one of the most influential British art movements of the 19th century. Their focus on detail, vibrant colors, and themes drawn from literature and history had a significant impact on Storey’s early development.
As his career advanced, Storey gradually distanced himself from the Pre-Raphaelite style, adopting a more conventional approach to genre painting, influenced by Charles Robert Leslie. This shift was likely reinforced by his interactions with other artistic movements, including those associated with James McNeill Whistler, and his travels to Spain in the 1860s, where he studied masterpieces at the Prado Museum.
By 1874, Storey had become a member of the Arts Club, a position he held until 1895. In 1875, he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA). Throughout his career, Storey exhibited widely, including at the British Institution, the Royal Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street, and the New Watercolour Society.
In addition to his painting career, Storey worked as an illustrator and authored his autobiography, Sketches from Memory, in 1899, reflecting on his artistic journey. In 1900, he was appointed Professor of Perspective at the Royal Academy, and in 1914, he was elected a full Royal Academician (RA).