The son of Nathaniel S Turland of Northampton, George had adopted the name Turland Goosey by the time he arrived in St Ives, although he reverted to the name George Turland in the late 1920s. Trained as an architect, he had gone to America and made a name for himself designing some of the early skyscrapers and no less than seven Roman Catholic churches.

Having already had success showing his etchings, his purpose in moving to St Ives in 1921 was to try his hand at painting. Although rarely practising as an architect whilst in the town, his highly regarded design for the cross on the War Memorial was an exception. He and his wife Minnie had spent six weeks in Polperro in 1913, during which time George painted a number of local scenes which were later shown in New York.

In the 1924 Show Day at St Ives, his principal picture was of Venice with old Adriatic boats anchored against the wall of a Doge's palace. Another was a view of the Rialto Curio shop at the foot of the Rialto bridge, and a smaller depiction of the Grand Canal. An array of other works included oils of The Island, Clodgy; Godrevy and the Bay from Knill Moor. George played an active role in the theatricals at the St Ives Arts Club, and was invited to join STISA in 1928. He returned to America as war loomed in the late 1930s and settled at Laguna Bay, California, where he developed an impressionistic style of depicting boats in the harbour, winning many admirers. It was there that he died, in 1947.