Robert Bissell’s paintings create a completely different atmosphere from our daily experience, inviting us to learn more about ourselves and our place in the world. His narrations of animals are a mirror for the human condition, self-definition and reflection. However, these are not mere children’s tales – quite the contrary. Bissell’s work invites us to reflect on the environment, life, death, renewal and the stages of transformation, departure from the safety of family, and making our way in the world.

Bissell grew up in rural England where animals, Celtic legends and bucolic landscapes were part of his daily life. His keen interest in visuals and storytelling began at an early age, documenting life around him through photographs and reading the children’s classics: Winnie the Pooh, The Wind in the Willows and Watership Down, which later informed and influenced his art.