Arnold Fiechter grew up with his sister Elise (1875–1962) in Sissach. His mother dies in 1891, and his father, Arnold Fiechter-Niederhauser, married the widow Elisabeth Schneider. A short time later they moved to Basel.
From 1894 to 1897, Fiechter completed an apprenticeship as a flat painter in Sarnen, and worked as a decorative painter in Central Switzerland. He then studied at the Basel vocational school under Fritz Schider. During this time he met Alfred Bloesch (1890–1967), with whom he had a lifelong friendship. At 20 years old, Arnold Fiechter was able to exhibit his watercolors at the Kunsthalle Basel.