Robert Bateman

Robert Bateman is admired by his peers as one of the founders of the contemporary wildlife art movement. He is known for elevating the school of wildlife art painting to a museum-quality level, giving it the recognition it deserves. We spent time with Bateman in his studio and witnessed his unfailing persistence to attain perfection in his work. Hours are spent refining the shading and detail on his pieces.

Having taught high school for 20 years, Bateman is willing to educate anyone who is in his presence. We were enthralled with his tales of travel and anecdotes about his experiences in foreign places. Bateman has had many one-man museum shows throughout North America, including an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution. Most of these shows have drawn record-breaking crowds. His honors, awards, and honorary doctorates are numerous; he was made Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian award. He has also been the subject of three films and several video productions.

Four books on his art, The Art of Robert Bateman, The World of Robert Bateman, Robert Bateman: Natural Worlds and Robert Bateman: An Artist in Nature, have been best sellers.