Born in 1926 in Stratford, Ontario, William Ronald began his artistic training in 1947 at the Ontario College of Art. Essential in the establishment of the Painters Eleven, he exhibited with the group in both Toronto and New York between 1953 and 1956. William Ronald moved to New York after becoming increasingly agitated by the public's response to non-representational art in Toronto, and joined up with Kootz Gallery until 1964. He returned to Toronto and continued to paint as well as work as a broadcaster with the CBC.