MILLS, Arthur Wallis

1876 - 1940

Arthur Wallis Mills was born at Warbleton, Sussex on 21 October 1876, eldest child of Frederick Mills, a gamekeeper, and his wife Sarah née Nettley, who married at Thakenham, Sussex in 1875. In 1881, Arthur was a 4-year-old, living at Upper Barpham, Angmering, East Preston, Sussex with his parents, 29-year-old Frederick and 33-year-old Sarah with two siblings, Jane 2 and newly born Frederick. Arthur was educated at Bedford School and in 1901, a 24-year-old 'art student', lodging at 131 Gordon Road, Ealing, Middlesex. Giving his parentage as youngest son of the late Revd Michael Edward Mills, rector of Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, late senior chaplain H.M.Bengal Ecclesiastical Establishment, India, he married at St Mary Abbot's, Kensington, London on 30 April 1901, Ethel Maud Greig (6 November 1874-21 December 1939), youngest daughter of Col. John Greig and in 1911, a 34-year-old 'artist painter', living at 10 Mount Avenue, Ealing with his 36-year-old wife Ethel, who was born in India, and their 9-year-old daughter Laura Campbell Wallis Mills. Arthur exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1899 and as well as traditional art forms, Mills also produced artwork and occasional cartoons for 'Punch', 'The Strand Magazine', 'The Humourist', 'The Black and White Illustrated Budget' and 'The Royal Magazine' as well as for 'The Wanganui Chronicle' in New Zealand. He has also illustrated the 1908 edition of 'The Novels of Jane Austen' and George Borrow's 'The Zincali' and others. In 1939, an 'artist in black & white', giving his date of birth as 21 October 1876, living at Green Lane House, Gedgrave Road, Orford, Suffolk with his wife Ethel Maud, who was incapacitated and their unmarried daughter Laura, who was born on 16 March 1902. His wife died at Green Lane House, Orford in 1939, her executor was their daughter Laura Campbell Wallis Mills, spinster. Arthur Wallis Mills was of Green Lane House, Orford, Suffolk when he died at 63 St James Street, Westminster, London on 5 April 1940, aged 63. His name was often abbreviated to A. Wallis-Mills, as well as A. W. Mills.

There are discrepancies between what he reported and the facts - In Who's Who in Art 1927 he gives a different birth year of 1878 and different parentage but his birth in the National BMD Index is 1876 and National School Admission Registers also gives his date of birth as 21 October 1876 when admitted to Bedford School in 1889 and on his 1939 Identity Card.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 69 Argyle Road, Ealing
1899 So near and yet so far

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Works by This Artist