John Cradock was lid van de Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, en zo maakte Mary Beale kennis met lokale kunstenaars, waaronder Nathaniel Thach, Matthew Snelling, Robert Walker en Peter Lely. ###>Her father was an amateur painter, and member of the Painter-Stainers' Company, and she was acquainted with local artists, such as Nathaniel Thach, Matthew Snelling, Robert Walker and Peter Lely.