George Turner was an English landscape artist and farmer. He was jokingly called “Derbyshire’s John Constable”. Turner was born in Cromford, Derbyshire in 1841 to Thomas and Mary Turner. His father was a tailor who encouraged his son’s natural talent for painting. Although Turner was largely self- taught, he established himself as a professional artist before the age of 21. As a young man, Turner took these talents and the new stand he had as a professional to be able to give private art lessons. 

During the 1860s Turner moved to Barrow-on-Trent. It was here in which he met his soon to be wife. In 1865 Turner married Eliza Lakin. They stayed in Barrow-on-Trent and lived at Elizas family farm ‘The Walnuts’. They had four children together, two of whom later became artists themselves; Mary Turner who married and became Woore and William Lakin Turner.

Turner specialised in rustic views of South Derbyshire and he exhibited from 1860 at the Birmingham Society of Artists and Suffolk Street. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Derby Art Gallery and became a member of the Derby Corporation Art Gallery Committee. Turner continued teaching art throughout his life and became art master to Louis Bosworth Hurt as well as many others. 

During 1880 Turner was commissioned to paint views of Calk Abbey by Lady Crewe. Twenty years later his dear wife passed away. After the death of his wife in 1900, he moved to Kirk Ireton and then to Derby. On 16 November 1903, Turner got remarried. His second wife was an artist like himself, Kate Stevens Smith. Once married, the couple moved to Cliffe Ash Cottage in Idridgehay. It was at Idridgehay where Turner died on 29 March, 1910. He is buried in St James’ churchyard.