ˈædəmz wʌz bˈɔːɹn æz ðə sˈɛkənd sˈʌn ʌv mˈɪstɚ. sˈiː.ˈeɪtʃ. ˈædəmz ɪn ˈɛdmɔntən, mˈɪdəlsˌɛks nˈaʊ ɪn ɡɹˈeɪɾɚ lˈʌndən, ænd stˈʌdid ˈɑːɹt æt ðə blˈuːmsbɛɹi skˈuːl ænd lˈeɪɾɚɹ ˌʌndɚ wˈɪljəm wˈɪlθɪˌuː fˈɛn.
Adams was born as the second son of Mr. C.H. Adams in Edmonton, Middlesex (now in Greater London), and studied art at the Bloomsbury School and later under William Wilthieu Fenn.