Forbes was born in London and attended Dulwich College in London with Henry La Thangue. They both went on to study at the Royal Academy before travelling to France and painting together during summers on the Brittany coast. Forbes came to Newlyn in 1884 and was responsible for bringing the colony of artists to the attention of the London public and critics.

By the turn of the century most of the original Newlyn artists had left, but Forbes remained, continuing to paint scenes of local life. The Drinking Place depicts local farmer, John Phillips on horseback and is probably set in the Lamorna Valley.