Painter and etcher William Strang was born in Dumbarton, Scotland and educated at the Dumbarton Academy. Moving to London in 1875, he studied art for six years at the Slade School under Alphonse Legros, working in drypoint, mezzotint, engraving, lithography, and woodcut. He ultimately became assistant master in the etching class there, and enjoyed great success. Some of his early plates were published in The Portfolio and other art magazines, and Strang, an early member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers, showed his work at its first exhibition in 1881. His etchings illustrated many literary works of the period. Strang was also widely recognized for his paintings, which included portraits, landscapes and genre scenes.