Gordon Stevenson was born on February 28, 1892, in Chicago to Scottish immigrant parents. He was immersed in an artistic heritage from a young age, honing his craft at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he studied under luminaries and received early commissions for murals. Seeking broader horizons, Stevenson traveled extensively through the British Isles and Europe, training in Spain under the masterful Joaquín Sorolla, whose vibrant palette and romantic sensibility profoundly shaped his own work. He later benefited from the discerning critiques of John Singer Sargent, who advised him on the delicate balance of proportion and environment in portraiture, helping Stevenson avoid the pitfalls that plagued lesser artists.

As a distinguished American painter, Stevenson was renowned for his elegant society portraits in oil, luminous watercolor landscapes, and intricate etchings that captured the subtle interplay of light and nature. His oeuvre reflects a masterful versatility. His portraits exude sophistication and psychological depth, often depicting affluent subjects in opulent settings with a keen eye for texture and expression. His landscapes evoke the serene poetry of the American wilderness through translucent watercolors that dance with dappled sunlight and flowing streams. Etchings such as those submitted to the 1932 Summer Olympics art competitions demonstrate his precision in capturing fleeting moments of rural tranquility, earning immediate acclaim and acquisition by major institutions.

An athlete in spirit as much as in art, Stevenson's graphics and paintings were selected for the Olympic art exhibitions in both 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin), where he showcased works inspired by trout fishing along New York's Willowemoc Creek and introspective angling scenes. These pieces not only highlighted his technical prowess but also his affinity for themes of patience and harmony with nature. His art endures as a testament to the enduring allure of beauty, whether in the poised gaze of a sitter or the whisper of a woodland brook. Gordon Stevenson passed away in February 1984, leaving a legacy of works that continue to enchant collectors and institutions worldwide, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum to Tripoli Gallery.