Rowlandson was born on December 11th 1861 in Secunderabad, Madras, India, the son of George Rowlandson an Indian Army colonel, and studied at the Gloucester Art School as well as the Westminster School of Art, London, and in Paris. He first worked as an illustrator, contributing works to The Illustrated London News between 1897 and 1900 and the English Illustrated Magazine from 1899 to 1900. He then exhibited oil paintings and watercolours at the British Institution and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours between 1911 and 1918.

G.D.Rowlandson painted figure scenes, sporting subjects, landscapes and animals in both oils and watercolours. He is best known for his equestrian portraits, hunting scenes and military subjects and was one of the first official First World War artists.