Holmes studied art at the Bloomsbury School of Art, now the Royal College of Art, one of the Kensington Museum's schools.
She won the Queen's prize at the end of her first year, which granted her £60 annually for three years and an additional £10 directly from Queen Victoria's personal budget "in token of high approval" of her work.
After studying in London for a year, she decided to continue her studies in Italy, thereby forfeiting the prize.
Holmes studied the human figure with Giuseppe Cammarano and landscape painting with Achille Vertunni in Venice or in Rome.
In the winter of 1881 she met with and showed her work to Queen Margherita of Italy who praised her talent and achievement.
Holmes joined Circolo Artistico, a club of multi-national professional artists, where she took evening classes.
She was the second woman elected to the Società degli Aquarellisti (Society of Watercolorists).

Her studies later continued with William Merritt Chase at the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art.
Holmes studied art at the Bloomsbury School of Art, now the Royal College of Art, one of the Kensington Museum's schools. She won the Queen's prize at the end of her first year, which granted her £60 annually for three years and an additional £10 directly from Queen Victoria's personal budget "in token of high approval" of her work. After studying in London for a year, she decided to continue her studies in Italy, thereby forfeiting the prize. Holmes studied the human figure with Giuseppe Cammarano and landscape painting with Achille Vertunni in Venice or in Rome. In the winter of 1881 she met with and showed her work to Queen Margherita of Italy who praised her talent and achievement. Holmes joined Circolo Artistico, a club of multi-national professional artists, where she took evening classes. She was the second woman elected to the Società degli Aquarellisti (Society of Watercolorists).
Her studies later continued with William Merritt Chase at the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art.
Rhoda Holmes Nicholls