William Arthur Aickman was born in England in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England on 29 July 1858 and was articled to William Adams & Son in 1874. He then work as an assistant to James Medland Taylor (1834-1909) for 18 months and to Henry Cowell Boyes (1846?-1900) for fourteen years.
In 1895 Aickman set up his own independent practice and by 1899 he was located at 34 Gresham Street in London. In 1926 his address is given as 58 Gordon Square, London.
Two plans and two drawings showing the front and rear elevations of 'Middle Hill', Hook Heath, Surrey, designed by Aickman are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1907 (p.9); a drawing and ground-floor plan of 'Bridle Way', Ewell, Surrey, designed by Aickman are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1908 (illustration B38); and a drawing of a house at Northwood designed by W.A. Aickman and a drawing of 'Briarside', Ewell, Surrey, designed by Aickman are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1910 (p.17).
Aickman exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1899 to 1911. In 1904 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA). He died Lewes, Sussex on on 17 December 1941
His son was the conservationist and writer Robert Fordyce Aickman (1914-1981). W.A. Aickman's correspondence and papers are held at the Royal institute of British Architects in London.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001