Henry Rielly arrived in Australia with his family as a child. He was a foundation member of the Victorian Academy of Arts in 1870 and exhibited with them between 1870 – 1895. His work was also included in the Melbourne Exhibition Building in 1872, an exhibition which toured to London the following year; the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879; and the Calcutta Exhibition in 1883-84. He later moved to Queensland, in 1885, probably to be closer to his sisters, Louisa and Isa (who were  both also artists) and exhibited with the Queensland Art Society between 1892 – 1902. The move may also have been prompted to seek a warmer climate following tuberculosis. Rielly died in Brisbane Hospital, aged only 47.

Rielly is known to have exhibited watercolours and oils depicting landscapes, around Melbourne, north-east Victoria and later Stanthorpe, Qld. His work has been compared with other nineteenth century artists including Buvelot, H.J. Johnstone and J.W. Curtis and described as being expressive, intimate and at times, having an air of melancholy.

His work is represented in the National Gallery of Victoria and the Queensland Art Gallery.