He was the elder son of the six children born to William Sidney Goodwin and his wife Elizabeth (nee Young).
His talented family produced several artists, most notably Sidney's uncle Albert Goodwin.
Typically, Goodwin painted urban, rural and maritime landscapes and he was known as an accomplished painter of animals, particularly horses.
Like his father and uncle before him, he was an avid traveller and made regular overseas trips which included extended visits to Canada and Ireland.
After WWI Goodwin departed the northern hemisphere emigrating to Australia where he stayed for the remainder of his life.