Thomas (1821-1904) and James (1825-1874) Holroyd

Both brothers were portrait painters. By 1849 James had become interested in photography and was working in Harrogate. In 1850 the brothers were in Halifax before settling in Scarborough. they worked in the town for a number of years, James taking photographs, Thomas probably sticking to portrait painting, but also colouring photographs both for his brother and other photographers. by 1856 they had moved to Harrogate. By 1863 they had established the business T & J Holroyd, with a branch in Huddersfield. The studio won medals the Belgian Photographic Exhibition of 1863 and at the York Exhibition of 1866. James died in 1874 and Thomas continued the photographic business alongside his artistic practice until 1889. Thomas had studied in Paris and Rome, toured extensively in Europe, North America and Egypt and exhibited at the Royal Academy. A number of portraits by Thomas are in the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate.

Thomas and James were the sons of Benjamin Holroyd, a weaver and textile designer from Rastrick near Huddersfield.