James Walsh (convict)

Drawing found in James Walsh's cell

James Walsh (c. 1833 – 1871), was a transported convict known for drawing fine quality classical drawings on the wall of Fremantle Prison Western Australia accidentally uncovered beneath whitewash in 1964. he also created several early drawings of the Swan River Colony.

Walsh, a clerk and painter was convicted at the Old Bailey, London in 1852 aged 20 for stealing 2 diamond crosses, and 13 diamonds from Jean-Baptiste Girard (pedagogue), He was also charged with forging an order of goods. He received 15 years transportation. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Ramillies on 10th Aug 1854 and was held at Fremantle convict establishment for two years. He was released for four months then convicted again for forgery of a one pound note. For this crime he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment. At some time during this sentence he drew an the walls of his small cell intricate drawings of religious figures, Roman and Greek mythological depictions and images of Queen Victoria. He was released in 1867 and worked as a painter and clerk until his death from tuberculosis in 1871.

Almost a century later, in 1964 intricate classically styled artworks and texts were uncovered in a storeroom that was once his cell after a prison guard damaged the wall by accident, removing whitewash revealing the artwork. One incomplete sentence reads "J Walsh left this cell 9 mar" Today the cell can be viewed as part of tours of the now closed prison site.

Walsh is also credited with several artworks displayed at Western Australian Art Gallery depicting the early Swan River Colony, Including a set of twelve watercolor sketches depicting native Australian life.