George Goodwin Kilburne was a genre painter both in oil and watercolour and engraver who was born in Reepham, Norfolk on 24 July, 1839 to Goodwin Kilburne and Rebecca Button. His father was a school master and by 1844 had moved the family from Norfolk to Kent, where he ran a private school in Hawkhurst. Kilburne was educated at the school and after leaving went on to serve a 5 year apprenticeship to London engravers and illustrators the Dalziel Brothers, studying wood engraving. On 21 June, 1862 he married Janet Dalziel the daughter of Robert Dalziel and niece of his employer, George Dalziel. The couple lived at Hilldrop Road, Islington and together had 3 sons and 2 daughters. One of his sons, George Goodwin Jnr (1863-1938) also became an artist.

By 1862, he had started turning from engraving to painting, quickly establishing himself as the leading painter of female beauties usually set against richly decorated interiors or in natural romantic backgrounds. He began exhibiting at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1862 and at the Royal Academy from 1863. He also exhibited at the New Watercolour Society, becoming a member in 1866 and at the Grosvenor Gallery. He enjoyed considerable success and around 1875, moved to Hawkhurst House, Steele's Road in Hampstead where he lived for over 35 years.

His first wife died in 1882 and on 27 July, 1899 he married for the second time to Edith Golightly with whom he had 2 girls. By 1915, he had moved to 16 Albion Road in Swiss Cottage where he spent the rest of his life. He died at his daughter’s residence, 38 Steele’s Road, Hampstead, on 21 June, 1924 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery.

Examples of his work can be found in many public and private collections including Horsham Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, National Trust, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.