Beginning his career as an illustrator, Rutherford Boyd later became a painter, sculptor, designer and art educator. He also wrote numerous articles about fine art, which were published in many periodicals.  Rutherford was born in Philadelphia and lived during his career in New York City, New Orleans, and Leonia, New Jersey. He was a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Memberships included the American Watercolor Society, and the Architecture League, and exhibition venues include the Art Institute of Chicago.