after her marriage in 1877 to sir william francis butler (1838–1910), a distinguished officer of the british army, from tipperary, ireland, butler traveled to the far reaches of the empire with her husband and raised their six children. during this time lady butler came under the influence of her irish husband's belief that the colonial imperialism of the united kingdom and other european powers might not be in the best interest of the natives in colonial lands. yet she continued to paint scenes showing the valour of the ordinary british soldier. butler also did some black and white illustration, including of poems by her sister, alice meynell, and of works by thackeray. she exhibited her work at the palace of fine arts and the woman's building at the 1893 world's columbian exposition in chicago, illinois. her daughter, elizabeth butler, married lt.-col. randolph albert fitzhardinge kingscote (b. 6 feb 1867, d. 8 dec 1940) on 24 july 1903.