Robert Bissell was raised in rural Somerset, England, and received an MFA in design from Royal College of Art, London. Bissell started documenting his surroundings at a young age, and his love of art, rural life, Celtic legends and panoramic landscapes has never lessened. After graduating, he moved to San Francisco to start a successful career in retail advertising. Fifteen years later, he decided to devote all his time to painting. His paintings explore the idea that animals have a metaphysical importance to our own spiritual well-being. In a world devoid of animals, we as humans would be compelled to reconsider our relation to nature. While whimsical at first glance, there is underlying tension and precariousness in his images. Bissell currently lives in Northern California and regularly exhibits in museums and galleries across the United States and Europe.