Born in Sheffield England he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Sheffield College of Art from 1898 to 1905. He then moved to Antwerp Belgium where he studied art at the Academie Royale. Lismers artistic style was inspired by the Barbizon and Post Impressionist movements in Belgium, and this showed through in his art. He also was said to have had pencil and paper always at hand, as he often created cartoon drawings of his friends. 

Arthur Lismer 1885-1969 was an English-Canadian painter and founding member of the Group of Seven. Arthur Lismer and the Group of Seven where known for depictions of the North American countryside in a new and uniquely Canadian style. He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and in 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Lismer passed away on March 23rd of 1969 in Montreal, Quebec and was buried alongside other members of the Original Seven at the McMichael Gallery Grounds.