W.D. Downey

William Downey (1829 - 1915) was considered to be one of Queen Victoria's favourite photographers and indeed produced numerous photographs of the royal family during the 1860s. In 1893, the Downeys were appointed as official photographers of the British royal family. William Downey set up his first studio with his brother Daniel Downey (1831 - 1881) in 1863, in Newcastle and opened a studio in London in 1872. Photographs by W. D. Downey are in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Getty Museum and the V&A.