No story of Dalton would be complete without some mention of the great painter - George Romney. George was born at Beckside in Dalton on the 15th December, 1734 and it was here he spent his early years although he attended school at Dendron. He left school at the age of eleven and went to work with his father who lived in a cottage at High Cocken in another parish of Dalton, which he purchased in 1742. Here he stayed for ten years, helping his father with his business. Not a lot is known about George's life at this time but it was in ths period that indications of his artistic abilities started to emerge. His son, John, later commented:-
"During the ten years he stayed with his father, while his genious struggling in obscurity, and labouring under every disadvantage, it is probable that it might have received the first impulse from having observed his ingenious father making drawings of ornaments and architecture. Of his skill and ingenuity in carving, the violin which he made for himself , and which is now in my possession, is a curious specimen and sufficient proof"....... The memoirs continue in Chapter 13 of *J. Walton's book....
His paintings can now be seen in art galleries throughout the world – Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Ottawa, San Marino, Washington and Boston, to name but a few, and there are four of his portraits at number 10 Downing Street. They are of Lady Emilia Kerr, Elizabeth Ellis, wife of Colonel Matthews, Colonel John Matthews M.P., and William Pitt the younger.
In St. Cuthbert's church at Kirkby-in-Furness can be seen two old oil paintings done on wood. They are of Moses the law giver and Aaron the High Priest, and are reputed to be the early work of George Romney, it rnust be emphasised however that there is no direct evidence to support this view, and that without expert opinion their oriqin must remain in doubt.