The artist's earliest successes were in portrait painting: he painted many portraits of notable figures of Aberdeen. Following a tour of Italy in 1823 however, he was inspired to paint more landscapes. As a keen angler Giles often painted river scenes and landscapes of Aberdeenshire such as this one. His patrons included the landed aristocracy of Aberdeenshire and Queen Victoria: he was commissioned to paint a series of watercolours documenting the interiors of Balmoral Castle as well as assisting the Prince Consort in the design of the castle’s gardens in 1855. In 1829 he became an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy, and contributed numerous works to its exhibitions from that time until near the close of his career. He also exhibited frequently at the British Institution in London, and occasionally at the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists.