File:Semaphore At Portsmouth RMG BHC1919.tiff
The artist was trained by his father the painter George Cooke, and showed outstanding talent as a draughtsman. He helped Clarkson Stanfield with some of his commissions, took lessons in oil painting from James Stark in 1834, and assisted with the arrangement of exhibits for the Great Exhibition of 1851. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1835-79 and was made ARA in 1851, and RA in 1863. His sketchbooks are in the National Maritime Museum, London. Finden made an engraving of this painting.