George William Leighton was born George William Bugg in Ipswich, Suffolk, England in on 12 June 1868. By 1892 he had changed his surname to Leighton and was practising as an architect in London. It is not known where or with whom he received his training. By 1896 he had relocated his practice to Ipswich and remained in Ipswich until the early 1920s.
Leighton was a member of the Ipswich Fine Arts Club from 1895 to 1905 and from 1895 to 1898 exhibited seven works, all architectural designs for houses in Ipswich and Felixstowe.
Leighton's address was given as 132 Brecknock Road, St Pancras, London in 1892; 53 Henley Road, Ipswich, Suffolk in 1896; Leopold Cottage, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk and 6 Princes Street, Ipswich, Suffolk in 1901; and 21 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk in 1909. By 1940 he had moved to France and was living in Grosley-sur-Risle, near Beaumont-le-Roger. He was interned by the German occupying forces in 1940 and died in St Jacques Hospital, Caserne Vauban, Besançon on 24 December 1940