a page from an album inscribed in the frontispage "F W Staines 3 Uplands St Leonards on Sea"
Amelia Jackson, Nee Staines (1842 – 1925) and thence by descent
The Allt na Cailliche (stream of the old woman) tumbles over an impressive waterfall as it rattles off the slopes of Ben Tee on its way to the River Garry above Invergarry village. Invergarry (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Garadh) is a village in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Great Glen, near where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich.
Near the centre of the village is the junction between the A82 road (from Inverness to Fort William) and the A87 road which branches off to the west towards Skye. The ruined Invergarry Castle is situated near the village on Creagan an Fhithich (the Raven's Rock), overlooking Loch Oich. As well as playing host to the local shinty club, Glengarry Shinty Club, it is the home town of shinty player, James Clark.
Francis William Staines was the last of a family of merchants from the City of London. Not only was he a successful businessman but he possessed a large independent fortune, such that he could devote his time to the cultivation of his talents in music and art. He was a brilliant amateur violinist, and also loved to spend much of his time painting. His daughter Amelia and her mother accompanied Mr Staines as he travelled throughout the country finding subjects for his painting. One area of the country that they visited frequently was Scotland and the Lake District, and Amelia grew particularly fond of the dramatic landscape of the Fells. Skelwith Bridge with the view of the hills around it 43 was one of her father’s favourite scenes. He painted landscapes and maritime paintings , exhibited 11 works at the RA including views on the Italian Coast, address in London, Hastings and St Leonards on Sea Susssex.