William Mellor was born in Barnsley, England, and a resident of Yorkshire throughout his life. The son and future student of Victorian landscape artist Joseph Mellor, William specialized in landscapes of North Wales and the West English countryside. His paintings often feature high detailed woodland scenes tinted with an orange, yellow, and brown color palette. Continuing on with the family tradition, William Mellor went on to teach his son, Everett William Mellor, the art of Academic painting.