Alfred Charles Conrade was the son of German born Herman and Marie Schmitz. His parents had moved to England, settling in Leeds and their oldest son, Alfred Charles Conrad Schmitz, was born there in 1865.

Alfred Conrade later changed his surname to Conrade. He studied in Dusseldorf, Paris and Madrid and spent some time Japan. He specialised in architectural subjects and exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1914-1933 and at the Dudley Gallery. He was chief artist at the White City exhibition and sporting venue 1911-14.