Despite attending the life class at St Martin 's Lane Academy , he remained unconfident of his ability to draw figures convincingly .
In 1763 he persuaded the leading landscape painter of the day ( and fellow Welshman ) Richard Wilson to take him on as a pupil .
Despite attending the life class at St Martin 's Lane Academy , he remained unconfident of his ability to draw figures convincingly , and in 1763 he persuaded the leading landscape painter of the day ( and fellow Welshman ) Richard Wilson to take him on as a pupil .