BROWN, Mia Edwards Arnesby

1864 - 1931

Mia Arnesby Brown

As Sarah Harriette Mia Edwards, she was born at Cwmbran Parsonage, Llanfrechfa, Wales on 11 November 1864 and baptised at Llanfrechfa, Monmouthshire on 10 May 1865, second child and eldest daughter of Revd Charles Smallwood Edwards (1836-4 July 1876), vicar of Llanddewi, Rhydderch, and his wife Mary Ann née Rich (born 1839), who married at Llandaff, Glamorganshire on 13 January 1862. In 1871, Mia, as she was known, was a 6-year-old, living at Panteague, Lower Machen, Newport, Monmouthshire with her parents, 35-year-old Charles Smallwood, and 31-year-old Mary Ann, with four siblings, Lodowick William 8, Gwladys Jane 4, Martha Minnie 1, and newly born Charles Frederick, all born in Monmouthshire, she had later siblings before her father's death in 1876. Mia studied at Herkomer's Art School, Bushey, where she met her future husband John Arnesby Brown, whom she married at St Pancras Parish Church, Paddington on 29 September 1896. In 1891, now just Mia Edwards, was a 25-year-old artist, living at Dudley Road, Hastings, Sussex, the home of her aunt, 48-year-old Elizabeth Evans, a widow, who was wealthy enough to retain a governess and three other indoor servants. As Mia Edwards she exhibited at the Royal Academy then continued to exhibit under her married name of Mia Arnesby Brown until her death, she was also a member and exhibitor at the Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle 1915-1918 from Haddiscoe, Norfolk. Sarah Harriette Mia Arnesby Brown lived at 12 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, London and died at 5 Kings Road, Chelsea on 4 March 1931.

Royal Academy Exhibits
as Mia Edwards from Hawardent Terrace, Abergavenny
1893 859 Once upon a Time
as Mia Edwards (Mrs A. Brown) from Corbis Bay, Lelant, Cornwall
1898 671 In the Wood
         892 Genifer
1899 589 Midsummer Morning
1900 1026 The Story
as Mia Arnesby Brown from The White House, Haddiscoe, near Norwich
1906 658 Shirley Poppies
         669 Evening
         722 A Gleaner
1908 965 The Knitter
1909 467 The Baby
from 12 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, Southwest London
1911 739 The Rose Garden
1912 691 Mary Reading
from The White House, Haddiscoe, near Norwich
1914 79 The White Wall
         183 Joyce Fleming
1915 22 The June Baby
1916 141 Delphiniums
1919 179 Mallows
1920 637 Study of a Child
1921 194 A Land Girl
from 12 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, Southwest London
1922 245 Eve
         528 Mrs. J. Llewellyn Davies
1923 218 The Window
1924 169 The Doorway
         553 Child and Flowers
from The White House, Haddiscoe, near Norwich
1925 430 A Little Maid
1926 251 The Lesson
1927 548 The Butterfly
         668 Sunshine
1928 75 Summer Day
         530 The Apple Tree
1929 481 Little Girl Sewing
1930 552 A Country Girl
         558 A Bird's Nest
the late
1931 710 A Little Fisherman
         724 A Little Maid




Works by This Artist