After studying design in South Kensington, Langley took advantage of a commission from a Birmingham photographer to move his family to Newlyn where he began recording the life and work of the fishing community and he became noted for his social realism. 

His working class background enabled him to identify with the hardships suffered by the community.  He is most famous for his watercolours ‘But Men Must Work and Women Must Weep’ which featured Annie Eliza Warren (21^st February), ‘The Three Fishers’ (1851) and ‘Another is Between The Tides‘ (1901) which is pictured left.

Middle and upper class painters who worked in oil dominated The Newlyn School was dominated and this led to Langley’s belief, held for many years, why his, indisputable, talent was under-estimated.

This changed in 1892 when he switched to oils and the incredible details and textures, due partly to his lithographic skills, became recognised.  His talents were recognised by the Uffizi Gallery (Florence) and he was invited to submit a work to hang alongside works by Raphael, Rembrandt and Rubens in their collection of self-portraits of great artists.