Rhead was the brother of George Wooliscroft Rhead and Frederick Rhead. In 1898 the three brothers illustrated Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Louis Rhead settled in the United States, where he illustrated many children's books and also wrote books on fishing.

Rhead drew 31 full page, and numerous smaller black and white embellishments for his edition of the Arabian Nights. Although full of detail, his art is often stiff and frequently lacks the exuberant imagination of Henry Ford or the power of A.B. Houghton.