George Cole (15 January 1810 – 7 September 1883) was an English painter known for his landscapes and animal paintings. Cole was born in Portsmouth to James and Elizabeth Cole. His mother died when he was 9 years old. According to the artist's grandson, Rex Vicat Cole, he was apprenticed to a ship's painter in the Royal Navy dockyards at Portsmouth. He taught himself to paint pictures, at first portraits and animals; he also painted posters for Wombwell's menagerie.