In 1805, Witherington became a student at the Royal Academy Schools. Witherington exhibited almost every year at the Royal Academy until the year of his death, sending in 138 pictures in total. He also exhibited for several years at the Birmingham Society of Arts. Witherington's early paintings were principally landscapes with rustic figures, but he varied them with such literary subjects as Lavinia, The Soldier's Wife, Sancho Panza and John Gilpin. In 1840, he was elected a Royal Academician.Witherington’s paintings have collected by most Museums and galleries all around the world such as the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts etc.画家威廉于 1802 年成为皇家艺术学院优等学生并每年都在皇家艺术学院举办画展直至去世，期间共有 138 幅画展出。威廉早期画作以乡村景色、人物为主， 此幅《巡回乐手》应为他中早期作品。威廉的画作，被各大博物馆画廊收藏，其中包括国家肖像美术馆，英国皇家艺术院等，极具收藏投资价值。