Born to English parents, Walter Schofield attended Swathmore College in Pennsylvania for one year, before spending eighteen months as a cowboy in San Antonio, Texas. By 1889, he was enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He remained for four years, studying under Robert Vonnoh. Schofield became friends with Robert Henri at the Pennsylvania Academy, and through him, met John Sloan and William Glackens.
In 1892, Schofield went to France, where he studied at both the Academie Julian under Gustave Boulanger, Gabriel Ferrier and Henri-Lucien Doucet, and the Academie Colarossi with Francois AmanÄJean. Before his return to the United States in 1895, Schofield toured Fontainebleau and Brittany. By 1896, the artist was again in Europe for one year. He married the British Muriel Redmayne in 1897. Upon his return, Schofield began establishing his career as a landscape painter who specialized in large, winter scenes, broadly painted en plein air.
Schofield settled in England in 1901 [if date changes, see Grafly, Schofield and change], moving to St. Ives, Cornwall, the following year. He remained in St. Ives until 1907. In 1906, however, he biked through France and Holland with Glackens and Henri. Schofield was often in Dieppe, France, during the years 1908 to 1910.
Although Schofield established residence in England, he annually returned to the United States from October to April. The landscape of New England and the Brandywine River Valley were his favorite subjects during these winter visits, and Schofield is usually discussed as part of the Pennsylvania landscape school.
In 1915, the artist enlisted in the British army, retiring in 1918. He resided in Otley, England from 1925 to 1937. During the late 1930s, Schofield spent time in California, New Mexico and Arizona. He was forced to remain in the United Kingdom during World War II. He died in England without returning to this country.
