Joseph Alma Everett was a native Salt Laker whose parents had emigrated from England as L.D.S. converts. He studied with John Hafen, J.T. Harwood, L.G. Richards,and L.A. Ramsey; he went on to study watercolor with E.A. Smith at the Kensington School of Art, then under no particular master in Paris, and finally with muralist Kenyon Cox in New York. After this, Everett went to work for the Oregon Short Line Railroad in its Salt Lake Engineering department office as a draftsman. Nevertheless he pursued the more supple and portable medium of watercolor in his off hours to quickly apprehend chance occurrences in nature. In time, Everett gave up his job with the railroad when his department was transferred to Omaha, and made the attempt to support his family via the opening of a school. It was tough, but he managed by teaching at Lion House and also giving private lessons to children of such notables as President Heber J. Grant. He finally became successful enough that a Joseph Everett Art Society was founded by devoted students who wished to retain, through fellowship with former classmates, at least a small degree of what has existed in painting sessions conducted by the master.

Biography courtesy of Artists of Utah