Born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire Hurt became famous for his paintings of the Scottish Highlands and his portrayal of Highland cattle. Some of Hurt's early training was as the pupil of another well-known Derbyshire artist, George Turner. Much of his work was done at his home in Ivonbrook, where he kept his own herd of Highland cattle, although he made frequent visits to Scotland. He also painted small landscapes during Snowdonian autumn holidays, when he had a cottage at Bettwys. Occasionally he painted views in the Southern Counties, especially at Burnham Beeches, and a list of his sales documented in Benezit suggests that he also visited France.

Exhibited : Royal Academy from 1881 Royal Society of British Artists.

Museums : Reading, Glasgow, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery, Bournemouth, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil