Hayman, Francis 1708-76
English painter and illustrator

He was born in Exeter. His most ambitious work was the decoration of the boxes and pavilions at Vauxhall Gardens, London. He also painted portrait groups which influenced Thomas Gainsborough who, for a time, worked under him. As a designer and illustrator he worked in the London studio of Hubert Gravelot, the most important link between French and English art of the time and, amongst other work, illustrated the books of Samuel Richardson. From 1760 he was president of the Society of Artists and, in 1768, a founder-member and the first librarian of the Royal Academy.