William George Simmonds was born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] on 3 March 1876 and was the son of John Simmonds, an architect, then working in Constantinople. He subsequently moved to England with his family. On leaving school he trained in his father’s office for five years while studying part-time at Windsor School of Art in Windsor, Berkshire. He then entered the National Art Training School [from 1896 Royal College of Art] in London which he attended from 1893 to 1899, followed by the Royal Academy Schools in London from 1899 to 1904. He then worked as an illustrator. From 1906 to 1910 he was employed as studio assistant to Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911) at his workshop at Fairford in the Cotswolds and helped him in the painting of murals for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When Abbey died in 1911 Simmonds took the canvasses to America and oversaw their installation.
Following his return to England, Simmonds continued his work as a painter and produced some illustrations for publishers.
In 1912 he married Evelyn Peart [also known as Eve Simmonds], an embroiderer and painter who had been taught by Walter Sickert. About this time Simmonds began making puppets and in December that year held his first puppet show at his house in Wiltshire where he and Evelyn were then living. When World War One broke out the couple moved to London. Simmonds was a pacifist, nevertheless, he contributed to the design of the first tank and was engaged on aircraft design for De Havilland, while at the same time continuing to make puppets.
In 1919 the Simmondses moved to Far Oakridge, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. A close neighbour was William Rothenstein with whom he shared an exhibition at the Alpine Club in London in 1921. Ernest Gimson and Sidney and Ernest Barnsley also lived nearby in Sapperton.
From the 1920s onwards he focused on making puppets and became an internationally-renowned authority on Marionettes. During the Second World War he served as Chief Air Raid Warden for Oakridge.
Simmonds exhibited at the Royal Academy in London; Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Royal West of England Academy in Birmingham; and Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. He also participated in exhibitions of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in London. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors (RBS) in 1905 and the Art Workers Guild in 1923.
Two of his paintings were purchased by the Chantry Bequest - "Seeds of Love" in 1907, and "Old Horse" in 1937.
He died on 23 August 1968. His death was registered in Stroud, Gloucestershire. He was buried at St Bartholemew Church, Oakridge, Stroud, Gloucestershire His address at the time of his death was Well Close, Oakridge Lynch, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.
An exhibition of the work of William and Evelyn Simmonds was held at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum in 1980.
