Stanley Francis Turner was born in Aylesbury, England, in 1883. He studied in London at the South Kensington School of Art and came to Canada in 1903, settling near Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He farmed there for a number of years while pursuing his art. After moving to Toronto, Ontario in 1911, Turner worked in advertising and then studied at the Ontario College of Art with George Reid and J.W. Beatty.
Working in a variety of mediums including oils, pen and ink, etching and woodblock prints, Turner's artworks frequently depict urban scenes, particularly in Toronto and Quebec City. They have been exhibited widely and can be found in the collections of many museums and galleries including the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa), University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto), Canadian War Museum (Ottawa), Glenbow Museum (Calgary), Art Gallery of Ontario, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, New Brunswick Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), and the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Turner's paintings, illustrations, and prints have also been used in books and magazines. During World War II, he received a commission from national newspaper The Globe and Mail to illustrate war maps.
In 1930, Turner was elected an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
Stanley Francis Turner passed away in Toronto, Ontario, in 1953.
