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Thomas Scarrow, Cumberland Artist 1811-1848
Thomas Scarrow was born on 28th November 1811 in Cockermouth, Cumberland. His father, Christopher Scarrow, worked as a blacksmith.
He joined Joseph Sutton's apprentices in portrait painting in oil. In 1831 he went to London to become a professional artist and showed "A Portrait of a Gentleman" at the Royal Academy in that year. He address was shown as 17 Great Russell Street, Covent Garden.
Until recently, none of Thomas Scarrow's paintings had ever come to light. However, last year (2005), a painting was unearthed in Dallas with T.Scarrow inscribed on the back. In consultation with Mary Burkett, the leading authority on Cumberland Artists, it would appear that the painting below is probably the work of Thomas Scarrow.
Thomas Scarrow married Maria Carter Smith in Annan in Dumfrieshire in 1833, and repeated the ceremony at Cockermouth All Saints Church on the 3rd September the same year.
In 1841 Census, Thomas was living in Dexter Street, Toxteth, Liverpool with his wife Maria and daughter Sarah. His occupation was still listed as that of an artist.
Thomas and Maria had four children: Christopher (born and died 1834 in Wigton); Georgina (born in 1834 in Wigton); Sarah (born 1837 in Liverpool); and Maria (born 1846 in Liverpool).
Thomas Scarrow died in 1848, in West Derby, Liverpool at the age of 37 of Tuberculosis.
Some years later in 1956, tragedy struck the family again, as decribed in the box on the left:
