The artist was born in Hammersmith, London, the eldest son of Fine Arts dealer Lebbluv Colls and his wife Sarah Ann. He continued to live at Barnes with his family until at least 1905, by which time his mother Sarah had been widowed. The address there was 9 Castlenau Villas.

He may also have maintained a studio at 44 Piccadilly, London from 1886 (Brook-Hart).

His work Carbis Bay, Cornwall was shown at the Institute of Painters in Oil Colours (ROI) in 1884-5, and Off Penzance was exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery, London in 1885.  In 1888 he showed A grey day - Penzance (RA No 910) and in the following year Mounts Bay, Cornwall (RA No 944) both at the RA. In 1902, he continued to exhibit from London, but as late as 1908 was exhibiting Fishing Boats at Penzance at the RA.