Daughter perhaps painting English river (4)
I believe the answer is:
dart
'english river' is the definition.
(River Dart in Devon)
'daughter perhaps painting' is the wordplay.
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'perhaps painting' becomes 'art' (painting is a kind of art).
'd'+'art'='DART'
(Other definitions for dart that I've seen before include "one destined to go on board?" , "Dash; pointed missile" , "Devon river - bound - race" , "quarrel" , "One fired" .)