Alfred William Parsons RA (1847-1920) was British landscape painter and illustrator, born in Somerset raied in London.   

He became very much apart of the close nit artist group at Broadway, probably through his friendship with Abbey -- they were roomates in London and had studios right next door to each other. He illustrated for Harper's New Monthly Magazine, having met Henry Harper through the Broadway colony. Illustrated Thomas Hardy's short story The First Countess of Wessex (1889). He also partnered with Abbey on the Herrick illustrations (1882), supplied illustrations for Henry James essay on Broadway (June to November 1889), and with Frank Millet on the Danube travel book (1893).(3) 

Frank Millet named his youngest son after both John Singer Sargent and Alfred Parsons (see John Alfred Parsons Millet) 

Parsons became well known as a flower painter and engraver. He did illustrations for William Robinson. This led him to an involvement with garden design. He had always been an avid gardener and horticulturist. Parsons became President of the Society of Painters in Water Colour in 1905. He would also illustrate Ellen Willmott's book on roses. (2)  

Note: 

Sold Sothebys; 12/3/1997; Lot 34; $71,250 
 

1) The dating of the darwing is estimated by Natasha  
2) Garden Visit and Travel Guide 
3) Stanley Olson; John Singer Sargent: His Portrait; St. Martin's Press, NY; pp. 122-123n