Michael Romney Gallery
Michael Romney Bio
Growing up in the rural atmosphere of Northern Utah, Mike Romney was exposed to
the beautiful scenes and the wild creatures of the Rocky Mountains. Developing the
desires of an avid outdoorsman at a young age, naturally his heart was inspired
by the adventurous art of Phillip Goodwin, Bob Kuhn, and Leon Parson. As a young
boy, Mike would draw and paint, fantasizing about someday becoming an artist. His
fantasy became more of a reality when Mike started his
education at Ricks College
in Rexburg, Idaho. While attending Ricks College, Mike studied under one of his
childhood heroes, Leon Parson, and graduated with an Associates Degree in illustration.
After Rexburg, his family moved to the East coast to study at The Lyme Academy College
of Fine Art in Old Lyme, Connecticut. While living in Connecticut, Mike was in close
proximity to many respected museums which hold what he considers to be some of the
greatest art in the world. During this time, Mike was introduced to, and influenced
by, numerous artists including the American Impressionist painters Willard Metcalf
and William Merritt Chase.
The Lyme Academy is a traditional school that focuses on the principles and the
ideas of the Renaissance masters. Naturally, the study of the human figure was the
emphasis; and the majority of Mike's paintings were figurative based. After returning
West in the Fall of 2004, Mike incorporated everything he learned and returned his
focus to his first love, the western and wildlife genre.
Mike was recently awarded the 2007 Wyoming Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year. Mike
was nominated to represent the Lyme Academy College at the National Arts Club in
New York City for the 28th Annual Show, winning the Everett Raymond Kinstler Award.
In 2004, Mike was awarded the "Excellence in Painting" award from the Lyme Academy
College of Fine Art and was invited back to the Still House Gallery for a two man
show in the Fall of 2005.
Mike resides in the Gentile Valley in Thatcher, Idaho. There he is able to live
in the environment he loves and study wildlife and landscape literally out his back
door.