WHEN English couple Dan and Christina Higgs visited Tasmania 10 years ago they had no idea of their strong family association with the state.
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Launceston was on the itinerary and with a love of art they visited the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, admiring works by local artists.
After their return to England their genealogical research revealed their link to Joshua Higgs, who was a surveyor and architect in Launceston from 1852.
Joshua Higgs was also a well known artist as was his son, also Joshua, who was sent to England for art training.
Dan and Christina Higgs discovered they were cousins, several times removed.
``When we found out about the connection we were annoyed with ourselves,'' said Mr Higgs, who is a retired architect and an artist.
``As soon as the opportunity came for a repeat visit, we wanted to know more about Joshua Higgs and his work in Launceston.
``For us this trip is a sort of pilgrimage.''
Launceston's Geoff Smedley, a great-grandson of Joshua Higgs, has been the focal point for their Tasmanian research.
Both men can trace their family line back to two sons of James Higgs, a cooper from the Henwick Estate in Berkshire, who died in 1766.
Christina is distantly related, by marriage, to a third son of James Higgs.
Descendants of the James Higgs family are now well spread around the world, but for Dan Higgs the Launceston connection is especially interesting given his profession and interest in art.
Both Joshua Higgses were accomplished landscape artists and painted widely in Tasmania.
It's a talent shared by Dan Higgs.
``I've been blessed with the untaught ability to paint,'' he said.
``Some of my paintings have been sold, but mostly it's for personal satisfaction.''
Today, there is growing interest in the works by the earlier Higgs generation.
Examples are held by the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and several have been sold recently at auction.
Launceston's Cataract Gorge and Cliff Grounds and the suburb of Trevallyn are two enduring legacies of the work of Joshua Higgs senior as a civil engineer.
He also designed the cottage near Kings Bridge.
``It's been an eye-opener, coming to Australia to see these other extensions of our UK family,'' said Dan Higgs, who is planning to do a painting of the cottage while in Launceston.
