Lumsden taught printmaking at Edinburgh College of Art. He wrote the standard manual on etching practice, ‘The Art of Etching’ in 1925, and became President of the Society of Artist Printmakers (initially based in Glasgow, then based in Edinburgh) from 1929. Born in London, Lumsden initially intended to pursue a naval career, but this was curtailed due to poor health, which continued to plague him throughout his life. He travelled widely in Europe, Asia and North America and specialised in depicting topographic views, particularly of architectural scenes. He also worked as a portrait painter when the market for etchings collapsed in the 1920s. Lumsden was married to Mabel Royds, an artist and colleague at Edinburgh College of Art.