Rogers was an art teacher, born in Croydon the son of a grocer. He became Head of the South Norwood School of Art, and in 1901 he was made Head of Sunderland School of Art, then Head of Torquay School of Arts and Crafts in 1918. When it was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1903, this bright little watercolour was noticed by the Sunderland Daily Echo: ‘It is a drawing of Sussex scenery, and is entitled “The Chalk Pit”, a view near Lewes, a panorama of that old town from the Sussex Downs.’