Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Bob Byerley showed early aptitude in both music and the fine arts. When he went to college, Byerley eschewed both of these interests and became a pre-med student. Part of his degree requirement at the University of Missouri was to take three credit hours of fine arts, and taking “Introduction to Art” in his junior year reminded him of his love of art. Bylerley then switched concentrations and received his Bachelors and Masters in Art from the University of Missouri at Columbia. When Byerley turned 30, he began to paint full-time. The focus of his paintings was at first primarily still lifes, but in the late 80s, he switched to painting children. His portraits of children have gained him international renown.