Baptised at King's Lynn, 14 October 1621. He was evidently well known to the important artists of his day, including Samuel Cooper (q.v.) who is recorded as having painted his portrait in chalk in 1644. Snelling worked as a portrait miniature painter in London from c. 1647-c. 1670. He also knew Charles and Mary Beale (q.v.) who had a wide circle of friends. Snelling worked slightly in the Manner of Hoskins (q.v.), but did not succeed in attaining anything like his merit. He was said to be by Vertue to have been a gentleman and seldom painted unless for Ladies with whom he was a mighty favorite and a gallant'; also that he contrived or furthered the match between the Duke of Norfolk and his second lady, who was the mother of George and Frederick Howard'. Snelling's miniatures were not, as has been stated, all of ladies; some were after the works of other artists such as Van Dyck. His works can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
