Walter was the youngest son of Edward Goodall and brother to Frederick.  He studied in the school of design at Somerset House, the Royal  and Clipstone Street Academies.  During his career he travelled to Rome, Venice, Holland and Brittany often choosing domestic subjects including peasants, children and animals as well as coastal scenes.   In 1852 he exhibited three drawings at the Royal Academy.  In 1853 he became an associate of the old Society of Painters in Water colours, and continued to be a frequent exhibitor in Pall Mall from that  date.  In 1862 he became a full member of that society.  His drawings were very much esteemed and was a constant exhibitor  at the Royal Manchester Institution and all the principal water colour exhibitions.  Some of his best work was shown at the exhibition of water colour paintings at Manchester in 1861 and his "Lottery Ticket"  was exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876.  Goodall usually painted   small subject pictures, such as "The Daydream," "The Cradle Song," "Waiting for the Ferry boat," and "The Tired Lace Maker."   A number of these were lithographed in a series entitled "Walter Goodall's Rustic Sketches."  Goodall also made many drawings from pictures in the Vernon Gallery for engravings published in the "Art Journal."  

His work is not to be confused with illustrations of birds, plants, trees, insects and fish by William Goodall (signed W. Goodall) who was not related to the family.

 About fourteen years before his death he had a stroke from which he never quite recovered and during the last few years of his life was unable to practice his art.  He died on May 14, 1889 at the age of 59, leaving a widow and three children.