Edward Richard Taylor was born in Skelton, Staffordshire, England on 14 June 1838 and studied at Burslem School of Art in Burslem, Staffordshire, and at the National Art Schools [Royal College of Art] in Kensington, London. He subsequently worked as a painter and ceramic artist. In 1898 he founded Ruskin Pottery in Smethwick, near Birmingham. On 1862 he was appointed Headmaster of Lincoln School of Art, a position he held until 1877 when he became Head of the Municipal School of Art in Birmingham. Under his tutelage the School won more gold, silver and bronze medals in the National Competition over a thirteen-year period than any other institution in Britain. He was a prolific exhibitor. Work by him was shown at the Royal Academy, New Gallery, Royal Society of British Artists, Grosvenor Gallery, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London; Royal Birmingham Society of Artists; Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Manchester City Art Gallery; and the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.