Robert Mountjoy was born in Bideford, north Devon and grew up in the fishing village of Appledore. He trained at St Paul's College, Cheltenham and read Art and Philosophy at Bristol University. After a short period working as a graphic designer he took up a teaching post in Cheltenham. Promoted to Head of Department he subsequently led a successful comprehensive school, art department. He was elected chairman of Gloucestershire LEA Art Advisory Panel in 1984.

In 1985 he moved back to Devon taking up a new role at Estover Community College, Plymouth (a specialist Art College). He was one of the founding directors of the Estover Percussion Project, the community arts initiative and remains its chairman.

Although initially better known for his abstract work, in recent years the paintings have become more figurative with most current work approaching realism. Subject matter is taken from rural fringes and often features the weathered stone and timber of neglected buildings, domestic fowl and garden birds. The technique is labour intensive with paintings taking several months, sometimes years to complete. Often working on several paintings simultaneously, colour added in many thin layers, building a composition that has considerable impact. Painstaking detail is added once the tonal balance has been fully adjusted.

Output of finished paintings is relatively small with only a dozen or so finished works released for sale each year.

Recently Robert has begun to produce Giclée prints of his work with Faraway Island Digital Fine Art in Devon. His limited editions are available on their web site or by contacting Faraway Island direct on 01822 617337

Work has been exhibited at:
The Old Bakery Gallery, Cheltenham 1972
Cheltenham Group Exhibitions 1972 -1984
Royal West of England Academy 1979 - 1984
The Park Gallery, Cheltenham 1982
Rooksmoor Gallery, Bristol 1983
Delahaye Gallery, Cirencester 1984
Mid Cornwall Gallery 1987
Mayflower Gallery, Tavistock 1990
The Wharf, Tavistock 1996
South West Academy 2000-2002

In 1981 he was awarded an Arts Council Award for Painting.

Examples of his work are included in the collections of Longmans Publishers, Cheltenham Town Council, Robin Armstrong and Michael Morgan RI