Having studied art previously, Florence met and married Mr Pilcher in India in 1882.  He died after she had returned to Scotland to have their second child, and she then married her second husband,Thomas Millie DOW, in Scotland.

In 1889 the couple came to Cornwall where they first stayed at the Tregenna Castle Hotel before making their home in Talland House, St Ives six years later. They made frequent painting trips to Italy thereafter.

 Florence's grandson was married to the novelist Rosamunde Pilcher, the author of The Shell Seekers, which is based in St Ives.