Evidently a painter of note (8)
I believe the answer is:
whistler
'painter of note' is the definition.
'Whistler' can be an answer for 'painter' (painter James McNeill Whistler). I am unsure of the 'of note' bit.
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for whistler that I've seen before include "American-born Victorian artist" , "American artist who painted his mother, d. 1903" , "Olympic ski resort" , "Siffleur - US painter, d. 1903" , "He famously painted his mother" .)