Dugald Steward Walker was born in Richmond, Virginia. After being unsuccessful as an insurance salesman and deciding to pursue a career in illustration, he studied drawing at the University of Virginia and, later, at the New York School of Art.
Walker became famous both at home and abroad in the late 1920s as a talented and critically acclaimed children’s book illustrator.
His first serious collection of illustrations were published in Stories for Pictures (1912).
Perhaps his most significant work as an illustrator of children’s books was his contributions to Hans Christian Andersen‘s 1914 volume, Fairy Tales. Walker remained one of the most sought-after designers of bookplates in both New York and Richmond. His monochromatic productions were similar to the work of Aubrey Beardsley.
In 1918 Walker wrotw and published a collection of fairy tales under the title Dream Boats: And Other Stories, and also illustrated Padraic Colum’s children’s story The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said in the same year.
His illustrations are best remembered for the lavish, magical realm that they frequently described. Wonderfully vibrant and often featuring mythical creatures, knights on horseback, and elaborate pleasure gardens, it is no wonder that he was one of the most highly-celebrated illustrators of children’s books.
(source: https://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/dugald-stewart-walker/)