Arthur William Simpson (1857–1922) was a master craftsman and furniture maker central to the Arts and Crafts movement in Britain. Born in Kendal, Cumbria, he trained under cabinetmaker Robert Rigg and later refined his carving skills at Gillows of Lancaster. In 1885, he founded his own workshop, The Handicrafts, where he produced finely crafted furniture, joinery, and church fittings. His work emphasized honesty of construction, the natural qualities of materials, especially oak, and restrained ornament. Simpson collaborated closely with architect M. H. Baillie Scott, notably creating interiors for Blackwell, a major Arts and Crafts house overlooking Lake Windermere.
