Walter, and his artist brother Frank, came to Auckland from Nottingham where their father was a lace designer. After his death, the boys recognised their talents in art and began exhibiting with the Auckland Society of Arts in 1885 and 1889 respectively. In 1908, Walter Wright produced a major historical work "The Burning of the Boyd" but following the death of his brother in 1923 he became a recluse and no longer exhibited.

The Auckland-based brothers Frank and Walter Wright worked with Stanhope Forbes at the Newlyn School in Cornwall. A basis in English Impressionism stood the two painters in good stead during their years in New Zealand.
- Lara Strongman, Curator of Fine Arts