A pretty scene of four women walking up a coastal path by Thomas Brooks. In the foreground one of the women can be seen picking flowers as another waits by a tree for the others to catch up.

Thomas Brooks was born in Hull in 1818 the son of Benjamin & Margaret Brooks. He left Hull for London sometime during the late 1830’s to study at Sass’s art school, established by Henry Sass in 1818 and which was located at 6 Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury at the time. He later enrolled at the Royal Academy School where he studied under Henry Perronet Briggs (1793-1844), who was a great influence on his work. He also went on painting trips to Paris during his studies.

He began specialising in portraits and genre scenes and after finishing his education, he returned to Hull where he lived at 28, Whitefriars Gate. He started making a name for himself and won a number of commissions for portraits which he produced from his studio, including one of Reverend John Healey Bromby. He made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1843, continuing to exhibit there regularly throughout his life. Around 1846, he made a more permanent move to London living at 33, Percy Street, Bedford Square. During the same year, he began exhibiting at the British Institution and at the Royal Society of British Artists.

On 9 November, 1847, he married Frances Emma Brine and they initially lived at 5 Park Cottages, Park Valley East. The couple went on to have 2 children, Thomas and Edward. By 1859, he was enjoying considerable success and had moved to 3, Upper Phillimore Gardens in Kensington where he resided for the next 20 years or so. From the 1860’s, whilst he continued to paint genre scenes and portraits, he also began producing a series of dramatic seascapes with many featuring lifeboat rescues. This was obviously a subject close to his heart as he donated a portrait of their secretary, Mr Lewis to the organisation in 1869.

During the late 1880’s, he relocated his family to Hastings where he lived at 3 St Helen’s Terrace, St Mary in the Castle. He died at his home in Hastings on 21 May, 1891. Examples of his work are held by The Amelia, Bristol Museum, Calderdale Metropolitan Council, Ferens Art Gallery, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, V&A and the Williamson Art Gallery.