R W Billings (Born 1813) was a painter and architect from England, born in London. He died in 1874. Billings trained as a topographical draughtsman, and before his death, he wrote and illustrated many books, more so in the early years of his career. Afterwards, he concentrated more on his architectural practice. In 1826, at the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to John Britton, a topographical draughtsman for 7 years. Although he had no formal training as an architect, he became a fine architectural draughtsman and on 27 July 1835, was admitted ARIBA. He was proposed by Henry Edward Kendall, Henry Rhodes and Peter Frederick Robinson. By then, he was based in Bath where he lived for 4 years, from 1834 until 1837. Billings succeeded Robinson as architect to Anna Gordon’s Kemble estate and to Robert in Gloucestershire.
This, together with the fact that Robinson nominated him, suggests that he must have received some practical training in Robinson's office. Billings married Clarkson Antoinette in 1836. He was lucky that Antoinette had some skill in drawing and so she greatly assisted him in his publications. In 1837, he drew the illustrations for George Godwin, followed by another work for Frederick Mackenzie. At the same time, he assisted Sir Wyatville Jeffry in the last stages of the reconstruction of Windsor Castle. He remained connected with this project until at least 1845, and came up with drawings of the ruins of the Palace of Westminster which was burnt down 1834. Billings died in 1874 and was survived by his wife who died 10 years late.
