Tuke was born in York and studied at the Slade before going on to Florence in 1880 and Paris in 1881-3 to study under Jean-Paul Laurens. On his return he settled in Cornwall, first in Newlyn, already an artistic centre established by Stanhope Forbes and other followers of French influenced plein-air painting, and later in Falmouth. Most of his works reflects his love and knowledge of the sea and his subject matter was usually marine or figurative. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1879 but was also a frequent exhibitor at most of the major London venues. He is represented in the collections of many public galleries both in this country and overseas.