 While at Sheffield he at first painted pictures of rolling-mills, smiths' shops, and similar subjects.In the early 1850s, he met Alfred Stevens, who had moved to Sheffield in 1850 to become chief designer at the ironfounders Henry E Hoole & Co. Sykes was greatly influenced by Stevens's work in the Renaissance Revival manner, and for a period worked at Hoole's under Stevens.He executed such decorative works as a frieze for the Mechanics Institute in 1853 and a ceiling for the news room for "The Telegraphic" in 1856.