James Parry's father left Liverpool for Manchester in 1790, and became particularly associated with pictures of that city. His youngest son, James (1795- 1871) followed in his father's topographical footsteps in Lancashire but also became an accomplished engraver. His self portrait, and two other canvasses are in the collection of the Royal Salford Museum.

Parry's edition of Tinney - A compendium anatomicum: or A compendious treatise of anatomy adapted to the arts of painting and sculpture: in which the external muscles of the human body are represented as they appear when cleared of the skin, the membrana adiposa, and the veins and arteries that lie on their surface, was published in London in 1752.