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Samuel Herbert Maw was born on September 12, 1881, in Needham Market, Suffolk, England. He received his early education at Ackworth School in West Yorkshire before embarking on a career in architecture. His initial training was under John S. Dorden in Ipswich, followed by further studies in London under Edward William Mountford, a distinguished Edwardian architect. During this period, Maw honed his skills in technical drawing, engraving, and etching. His exceptional talent in delineation was recognized in 1905 when he was awarded the prestigious Soane Medallion by the Royal Institute of British Architects. This traveling scholarship allowed him to study architectural styles and techniques across Western Europe. By 1909, his work had garnered sufficient acclaim to be exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. 

In 1912, after a brief tenure in New York City, Maw emigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he joined the architectural firm Darling & Pearson. There, he worked as an architectural delineator, producing intricate renderings of the firm’s commissions under the direction of Frank Darling. While at Darling & Pearson, he also pursued independent architectural projects and entered design competitions. In 1918, Maw left the firm and relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, before settling in Montreal in 1923. In collaboration with architect Philip J. Turner, he co-designed St. Phillip's Anglican Church in Montreal West. By 1925, he had established his own practice, and in 1926, he joined Ross & Macdonald, likely contributing to the design and delineation of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel. Following his time with Ross & Macdonald, Maw returned to Toronto.

 Maw’s contributions extended beyond architecture into cartography. In 1929, he published a pictorial map of the St. Lawrence Estuary, commissioned by the Province of Quebec’s tourism office. This project marked the beginning of his reputation as a cartographer. His most celebrated map, The City of Quebec (1932), was an intricate and vividly illustrated depiction of Quebec City. Begun in 1926, the map showcased detailed renderings of individual buildings alongside historical annotations, drawing comparisons to MacDonald Gill’s Wonderground Map of London. It was reproduced extensively and remained a popular souvenir for nearly thirty years.

In 1937, Maw collaborated as an associate architect with George & Moorhouse on the design of the Toronto Stock Exchange building, an Art Deco landmark now home to the Design Exchange. The success of The City of Quebec led to a prestigious commission in 1939 to create This Is Canada, a booklet of maps celebrating the royal tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The original folio was presented to the King by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. 

In 1940, Maw joined McGill University as an instructor in Architectural Rendering and Perspective. However, with the onset of World War II, he relocated to Ottawa to work for the Department of National Defence. In 1942, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Montreal’s founding, he published La Cité de Montréal, a meticulously crafted map with historical oversight from notary and historian Victor Morin. The original artwork was displayed at Montreal’s Windsor Station for several months. In 1944, Maw produced a map of Ottawa, commissioned by the city.