Printmaker, watercolorist, and graphic artist Lewis Carlton Ryan was born in Austin, Texas, on May 23,1894. After his service in WWI, he moved to Los Angeles, CA, in 1919 where he enrolled in courses at the Otis Art Institute and UCLA. He was awarded scholarships to travel to Europe, where he studied in Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam. 

On his return to the United States he began work as a graphic artist and illustrator for a variety of publications. He focused on landscapes of the West, historic sites, and architecture. He would go on to illustrate five books on the history of Escondido written by his wife, Frances. 

Exhibitions include: Otis Art Inst. Alumni, 1936, 1941; California Watercolor Society, 1936 - 1944; Los Angeles County Fair, 1937; Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, 1938. His work can be found at the Huntington Library in San Marino.

Lewis Carlton Ryan died in Escondido, California on January 4, 1982.