Robert Harper was born in 1957 in Columbus, Montana. As a young boy, his time was divided between his home in Wyoming and his grandparent’s ranch in rural Montana. The rich and rugged landscapes of these two states provided Robert with a deep appreciation of nature and the beauty it affords. But it wasn’t until his teen years, when Robert saw a painting by the legendary Conrad Schwering, that he considered painting the landscapes that he was so familiar with. Schwering’s work birthed a desire in Robert to capture the beauty around him. Encouraged by a local art instructor and friend, Robert spent every spare moment of his high school and college years with a paintbrush in hand.