Towne's bold, spare draughtsmanship, brilliant colouring and sense of atmosphere mark him out as one of the most original watercolourists of the eighteenth century. He progressed far beyond the descriptive discipline of topography to a sensitive appreciation of pure landscape.

Much of his best work was done from nature in Italy, but he also made some beautiful watercolours on a Lake District tour in 1786. Ambleside, on the north side of Lake Windermere, was his base during the tour.