William Powell Frith (1819-1909) was British painter. The few pictures that made Frith's reputation are of contemporary subjects. These started, tentatively, with a picture of a servant girl (c. 1853), which was engraved with the saleable title of Sherry Sir?
Frith produced his first ambitious modern-life subject: Life at the Seaside (or Ramsgate Sands, exh. RA 1854; London, Buckingham Pal., Royal Col.).. Its purchase by Queen Victoria encouraged Frith to produce the equally popular Derby Day (exh. RA 1858; London, Tate) and the Railway Station (1862; Egham, U. London, Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll.).