Robert William Collier was born in St Pancras, Middlesex [now London], England in 1854 and was articled to George Somers Clarke (1825-1882) from 1872 to 1876. He then worked as an assistant to Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1873-1938) until 1878. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools in London. From c.1879 to 1881 he worked in the office of Thomas Archer and Arthur Green (?-1904).
Collier was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1881 and was awarded the Tite Prize that year. He also commenced independent practice in London in 1881. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1890 and died on 17 July 1923. At the time of his death his address was given as 25 Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, Middlesex
Additions and alterations to Springfield Place, near Chelmsford, and to Baddow House, Great Baddow, Essex; residences at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover and at Worth, Sussex; agent's house on Lord Lilford's estate, Aldwinckle, Northants; residence at Reigate Heath; and additions to "The Vineyard", Welwyn; residence at Witnesham, near Ipswich; works on the estates at Beckenham, Blackheath, and Woodbartwick
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