Born in 1873, Harry Robert Mileham began his artistic education at the Lambeth School of Art and later studied at the Royal Academy Schools. Whilst studying in 1895 the artist was awarded the Gold Medal and Travelling Studentship at the Royal Academy Schools, with which he travelled to Italy to continue his artistic training. Upon his return, the artist became a member of the Art Workers Guild. Mileham enjoyed success very early on in his professional career, and represented Britain in the 1899 Venice Biennale. In the early 1900s Mileham began to focus his attention on stained glass design and produced several windows for churches throughout Britain. From 1908 onwards,Mileham frequently collaborated with the local firm Cox & Barnard, based in Hove where the artist lived and worked until his death. His accomplished designs can be seen to this day in the churches of St Mary, Kemptown, Brighton; St Stephen, Brighton and Hove; and St Mary, Kelling, Norfolk.

Alongside his prolific work for Cox & Barnard, Mileham often worked as a freelance artist illustrating fiction and historical publications as well as producing portraits on commission. He also produced stained glass designs on a freelance basis for London-based glassmakers and leadlighters James Powell and Sons from around 1914 onwards. The artist continued to produce stained glass designs and complete illustrations in a distinctive Pre-Raphaelite style until his death in 1957. His work remains in situ at a number of churches throughout Britain and in the collection of the Brighton and Hove Museums and Art Galleries.