Dickinson, an English engraver and publisher, was chosen by the prominent painters of the late eighteenth century to translate their paintings into prints. Among the artists he worked for were Kauffman, Pine, Bunbury, Moorland, Reynolds, Romney & Peele. He worked primarily in the filed of color printing and was skilfull in both mezzotining and stipple engraving. The overwhelming sucees of his publishing business overwhelmed Dickinson and he eventually went bankrupt .