Born in Riga, Latvia, Leon Gilmour came to America in 1916, settling in Boston where he later studied at the School of Practical Art. Gilmour’s subject matter was inspired by his experiences working as a ranch hand, gold miner, and truck driver. Gilmour eventually settled in the Los Angeles area, where he resumed his artistic studies in the late 1920s at the Otis Art Institute. Gilmour was an instructor at the University of Southern California, and also was a successful designer and illustrator.