Thomas Sutcliffe

Who was Thomas Sutcliffe?

Thomas Sutcliffe was an English watercolour painter.

Sutcliffe was born and lived most of his life in the Leeds area, particularly Headingley. He married Sarah Lorentia Button, and they had a large family, including his eldest son, the famous photographer Francis Meadow Sutcliffe.

He was self-taught, but was elected to the Institute of Water-Colour Painters and was a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Academy. He was said to excel at landscapes but also painted figures well, and tended to the Pre-Raphaelite school. His works included a set of over 50 featuring the Yorkshire coast from Hull to Redcar.

He died of heart disease on 11 December 1871 in Whitby.