This study covers the personal and artistic life of Benjamin Williams Leader R.A. over his long career of over 70 years. Working within the tradition of British landscape painting, and influenced by his lifelong admiration of John Constable, Leader's extensive coverage of the British countryside and coastal scenes reveal the distinctive and independent style he developed. He was to become a master at exploiting different natural effects of light, especially the amber luminousity of the late afternoon sun which became his trademark. Colour plates show samples of his paintings spanning his career, dfiferent locations and evolving style.