Arthur Croft Mitchell (1872–1956) was born in Birmingham to Manoah Mitchell, a wealthy linen draper, and Fanny Croft. His maternal grandfather was the church architect John Croft, and his uncle was the successful landscape painter Arthur Croft (1828–1902), who greatly encouraged his talent for drawing.
In 1898, Mitchell enrolled at the Slade School, where he studied under Frederic Brown, Henry Tonks and Philip Wilson Steer. Fellow students included Harold Gilman, William Orpen, and the portrait photographer Charles Beresford. Augustus John, who graduated the year before, was also a regular visitor. Arthur then spent two years at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris's Montparnasse district, where he came under the direct influence of the Impressionists and exhibited in the Paris Salon.
Once he had returned from Paris, Mitchell based himself in London's Chelsea and satisfied his romantic nature painting large canvases on themes such as Arthurian myth. Inspired by his love of Vermeer, he also specialised in interior scenes, and he exhibited at the New English Art Club, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the Paris Salon.
In 1913, Mitchell built a grand townhouse with a studio, Vale End, at 32 Mallord Street, Chelsea, where he lived for the next forty-two years. During World War One he was called upon to assist at the Foreign Office, and worked for a time as a temporary ministerial secretary in Copenhagen. The War took its toll on his eyesight and following his return to full-time painting in 1920, he produced predominantly landscapes and still lifes.
Around this time he met Evelyn Violet Ware (known as Molly) at Chelsea Arts Ball; they married in 1926 and settled into life at Vale End together. The portrait artist Augustus John moved in next door. They couple went on to have two children, Colin Ware Mitchell (1927–2015) and the archaeologist Terence Croft Mitchell (1929–2019). The family also spent time at the country house of Mitchell's parents, Madeira House, Wadhurst, Sussex.
