Vasily Timorev, born in Glukhov, Chernihiv province, received his art education at the School of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts and later studied at the Academy of Arts under Ilya Repin. He honed his skills in enamel and etching during his time in Paris with Elizaveta Kruglikova. Returning to Russia, he worked as a graphic artist at Knebel's publishing house before joining the State Porcelain Factory as an artist-painter.

Timorev's works are known for their detailed and narrative nature, conveying meaning through inscriptions and symbolic images. His paintings seamlessly blend genre and symbolism, creating illustrative series that express profound ideas. His style, influenced by graphic etching, often features vivid and colorful murals resembling printed images.

One of his notable works is a decorative dish with the inscription "Who works, he eats," incorporating specific symbols influenced by the works of Sergey Chekhonin and Mikhail Adamovich. Timorev frequently signed his pieces as "Timorev" along with dates, and some items bore his iconic mark resembling the suit of clubs in playing cards.