The Sutcliffe Gallery has evolved over the years in direct line of business descent from Sutcliffe's own photographic career.

Frank Sutcliffe, born at Headingley, Leeds in 1853, set up his own professional photographic studio in a dis-used jet workshop in Waterloo Yard, Whitby in 1875.

He remained in Whitby up until his death at the age of 88 in 1941.Sutcliffe developed a great affection for the busy little fishing port on the rugged North Yorkshire coast.

He produced magnificent studies of the characterful fisherfolk working around the harbourside with its picturesque square-rigged ships.

These, together with his superbly composed landscapes and the farming community going about its daily tasks in the neighbouring moorland villages and valleys, eventually earned him over sixty gold, silver and bronze medals at exhibitions throughout the world between the late 1870s and the end of the 19th century.