William Henry Mander was born in Aston, Birmingham in 1846 to William and Mary Mander. The family lived at Little Barr Street and later Great Barr Street, close to the Digbeth and Birmingham canals where his father worked as a fender maker. In 1870, he married Mary Ann Mooney and together they lived at St Andrews Street, Birmingham and later at 36 Watery Lane. He initially worked as a carver and gilder, becoming a master craftsman with a fairly successful business. However, in his spare time he continued to develop as a landscape artist and started exhibiting at the Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham from 1881.

By 1891, he had established himself as a fulltime artist and was living with his family at Dolobran Road. After the death of his wife in 1898, he married Lucy Sparrow in April 1899. Around the turn of the century, the couple lived in Dolgellau in North Wales close to the River Mawddach, an area of great beauty and a source of inspiration for Mander. He also travelled around painting views of the Lledr and Conwy Valleys. By 1904, he had returned to the Birmingham area where he lived in Bournville. Mander spent his final years living at 114 Addison Road, Kings Heath. He continued to exhibit right up until his death on 8 October 1914.

Mander was a prolific artist whose style has often been compared to that of Benjamin Williams Leader (1831-1923). His paintings are admired by many, in particular his views of the Midlands and North Wales, and always find a ready market amongst collectors. Mander's landscapes have great atmosphere about them and with his use of a rich palette, never fail to impress.

His works are represented in a number of public collections including the Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, Bradford Museum, Coope Gallery and the National Library of Wales.