Joseph William Topham Vinall was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 11 June 1873. By 1890 he had moved to London and in the 1891 England & Wales Census gave as his occupation student at the South Kensington Art School [now Royal College of Art] living at 41 Buxton Road, West Ham, London. He later attended the City and Guilds of London Institute. By 1898 he was living at 80 Buxton Road, Stratford, London.

He subsequently worked as a printmaker and painter, known for his landscapes and architectural paintings, particularly of London buildings. He was also employed as an examiner at the City and Guilds of London Institute.

He exhibited at Abbey Gallery, Walker's Gallery, Royal Academy, International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of British Artists, and Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in London; Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin; Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh; and at the Paris Salon.

Vinall was the author of a number of books including Art and How to Study It (1900) and Crayon and Pastel Work for Schools (1932).

He lived for many years in Ealing, west London and died on 21 March 1953. At the time of his death his address was given as 8 Devonshire Gardens, Chiswick, Middlesex.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}