William Shayer (1787–1879) was an English landscape painter and figure painter who became prominent during the Victorian era.  He was largely a self-taughter painter,  who became skilled at oil painting,  portaying woodland scenes with people and animals in front of country inns and farm houses. Shayer lived and painted mainly in the south of England.  Occasionally he collaborated with other artists.

 

Shayer exhibited at the Royal Academy (6 works), the British Institution (82 works), and at the Suffolk Street Gallery of the Society of British Artists (338 works). He also exhibited in many of the lesser-known Victorian art venues as well.   His works are on display at many museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Glasgow Art Gallery, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.