The viewpoint in this picture of the castle is from the south looking up the Cleddau towards Crowhill and Tangiers, so the artist John "Warwick" Smith was most likely positioned in the area of Hermon’s Hill when he painted it.

The painting was one of a series of 13 made by Smith to illustrate William Sotheby’s Poetic Tour Through Wales. Originally published as a volume of poems in 1790, the engravings after “drawings taken on the spot by J. Smith,” each had a colour wash applied by hand, depicting various scenes in Wales including Haverfordwest Castle.

Smith is widely considered one of the most successful watercolourists of the late 18th century.