He began his career as a young artist, illustrating archaeological finds for other excavators in Egypt. This gave him invaluable experience in meticulous observation, recording, and the practical aspects of excavation. Through years of working alongside experienced archaeologists (like Percy Newberry), he learned the techniques and practices of excavation, hieroglyphic reading (though not to a scholarly level), and the handling of artifacts. Essentially, he was a highly skilled and practical archaeologist who learned through years of hands-on experience rather than formal education.