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Stanley Francis Turner was a British-born Canadian artist, illustrator, and cartographer, who in cartographic circles is known for his pictorial war maps and contributions to visual journalism. Born in Aylesbury, England, in 1883, Turner received his artistic training in London at the South Kensington School. In 1903, he emigrated to Canada, where he continued his studies at the Ontario College of Art under the tutelage of George Reid and J.W. Beatty.

Turner developed a reputation as a painter and designer skilled in working across multiple artistic mediums. His career encompassed both traditional painting and commercial illustration. During World War II, he was contracted by the Globe and Mail to produce pictorial maps depicting key war events, designed to communicate complex military developments in an accessible visual format. In addition to this work, he collaborated with Toronto-based publisher and advertiser C.C. Peterson to distribute his maps in the United States.

Turner’s maps are characterized by their high level of detail and information density, integrating artistic techniques with cartographic accuracy. His approach varied, employing both traditional Mercator projections and more contemporary equal-area projections. His pictorial maps were widely distributed, serving as both historical records and wartime educational tools.

In recognition of his artistic achievements, Turner was elected an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1930. He remained active in the Canadian art scene until his death in Toronto in 1953.