Robert Bateman's fascination with nature dates from his boyhood in Toronto, where he began his lifelong education as a naturalist by studying and sketching the species he saw in the ravine behind his house. An internationally acclaimed artist whose paintings can be found in collections worldwide, he is the bestselling author of six books. An officer of the Order of Canada, the recipient of nine honorary doctorates, and an honorary life member of many conservation organizations, he devotes much of his time to finding ways to preserve the natural world. He lives with his wife, Birgit, on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.
