As an impecunious art student, he lived with his brother, William George Paulson Townsend, who had become Design Master at the Royal School of Needlework and was an author and editor of various art publications.
Sebagai mahasiswa seni yang kurang mampu, ia tinggal bersama saudaranya, William Paulson Townsend, yang telah menjadi Guru Besar Desain di Royal School of Needlework dan merupakan seorang penulis dan editor dari berbagai jurnal seni.