John Scott

John Walter Scott, Jr. was an American illustrator and painter known for his depictions of the Old West. Born to a Scottish immigrant father and an Irish-American mother, Scott’s early years were shaped by the riverfront and a love for fishing. He began working at age 15 at the La France Tapestry Mill, where he took art classes at the La France Art Institute. By 1930, Scott launched a freelance illustration career, using the name “J.W. Scott.” He contributed pulp covers to publications like Wild West Weekly and Marvel Science Stories. After moving to New York in 1932, he also worked for advertising agencies and joined the U.S. Army during WWII, contributing to YANK Magazine. Post-war, Scott worked for slick magazines and painted murals for institutions like The Church of Latter-Day Saints. In his later years, he focused on easel paintings of the Old West, emphasizing individuality in his art.