Born in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, England, Kenderdine studied at the Manchester School of Arts, in Manchester, England, and was then apprenticed to several established artists in Blackpool. As shown here, he went on to study at the Academie Julien, in Paris, France, in 1891. Upon returning to England he opened Gus Kenderdine Photographer and Fine Art Dealer, but chose to emigrate to western Canada with his family. They homesteaded near Lashburn (1908-20) and he fell in love with the beauty of Northern Saskatchewan.

At the request of President Murray, president of the University of Saskatchewan, Kenderdine opened a studio in Saskatoon and began teaching art classes in 1920. In 1926 he was asked by President Murray to teach noncredit classes for the University. Kenderdine envisioned and brought about the Summer School of Art at Emma Lake, of which he was Director from 1936-1947. Fondly remembered by his students, "Father" Kenderdine, as he was referred to in the yearbooks, made a significant contribution to the interest and appreciation of art in Saskatchewan. In 1936 he also became Director of the School of Fine Arts at Regina College in Regina. He died in the summer of 1947 while teaching at Emma Lake.