The son of a Chelsea boat builder and waterman, Greaves met Whistler when the latter moved to Chelsea in 1863. In the 1870’s he assisted Whistler in decorating the Mall Gallery for Whistler’s first exhibition, and helped with the Peacock Room. Greaves own etchings mainly date from the 1870’s and early 1880’s while he was quite closely associated with Whistler. In 1911 he was given a single solo exhibition of his work, and most of the extant impressions of his etchings were probably printed for this exhibition. The Adam & Eve, a Thames-side public house in Chelsea, was also etched by Whistler, in 1878. It was demolished when the Chelsea Embankment was built.