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After the death of his father who had been opposed to his son becoming an artist, Walton studied at Dusseldorf Academy from 1876 -1877. He then studied at Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy and became a Member of the Glasgow Art Club. At this time he became friends with Sir James Guthrie and Joseph Crawhall whose sister had married Walton's brother. Soon this core group of artists along with George Henry, Arthur Melville and others became known as the Glasgow Boys painting en plein air together at Brig o' Turk, Cockburnspath and Helensburgh in the 1880's and visiting and exhibiting in Paris. From 1894 to 1904 Walton lived in London where he befriended Whistler. Encouraged by Guthrie who had become President of the RSA in 1902, Walton moved to Edinburgh in 1904 where he was to remain. He exhibited at the RSA from 1880 until 1921 becoming an Associate Member in 1889 and an Academician in 1905. His daughter Cecile Walton (1891 - 1956) also became a well known artist.