Andrew Whitford Anderson was born in Bower Chalk, Wiltshire, England on 18 March 1859 and was articled to James Salmon (1805-1888) and William Forrest Salmon (1843-1911) of James Salmon & Son in Glasgow, Scotland from 1874 to 1879. He then worked as an assistant to Hippolyte Jean Blanc (1844-1917) in Edinburgh from c.1880 to c.1882; and to John Macvicar Anderson (1835-1915) in London in 1884. He subsequently worked for Anderson until c.1892.
In 1892 he established his own independent practice in Watford, Hertfordshire. In addition to his work as an architect, Anderson was also a noted draughtsman and architectural letterer.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1884, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1922. He was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal for Drawing in 1884
Anderson retired in 1931. He died at his home, Sundial, Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, on 27 November 1950
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001