Born in London of a French family, the artist was the son of the engraver, Louis Phillippe Sargent, several forbears being artists and engravers. He studied at the South Kensington School of Art, and was married to the painter Katharine Evelyn CLAYTON. They first came to St Ives in 1908, and lived at Clodgy View, using 1 Piazza Studios for work. Altogether they were to live in Cornwall more than 50 years, but they also worked in the South of France. When they were not in St Ives, they shared studios at 2 and 3 King Henry's Road, Hampstead. From 1921 until 1939, much time was spent painting on the continent, but they returned to West Cornwall in 1939, joining STISA and exhibiting with them through the war years. His entries for the 1911 Show Day are illustrative of broad, international interests in art and include his titles The Cornish Coast: Night (for International Exhibition, Grafton Galleries), The Moon (for Imperial Exhibition, Crystal Palace), Hampstead Fair (International) and a Portrait of Miss Millie Dow. His Obituary noted that he had little interest in art societies. He died at Tallandside, The Belyars, St Ives.