Robert O'Rorke trained in London at the Royal College of Art. When he graduated he was painting large abstracts, but he was always more interested in creating images with space and depth. After retraining as a picture restorer, he returned to figurative painting and continued the two careers in tandem. He has exhibited in many one man shows and mixed exhibitions.
These include the International Art Fair Los Angeles, London Art Fair Islington, International Art Fair Salzburg, Royal Academy, Whitechapel Art Gallery,
Laing Art Exhibition, Singer and Friedlander Watercolour Competition, New English Art Club, Brighton Art Gallery, Marble Hill House, Aldeburgh Festival and Discerning Eye.
Commissions have included two large oils of Rufford Abbey for the Council Chamber in Nottingham, and he was artist-in-residence at Garsington Opera for the 2006 season.
His work is in the collections of Hammersmith Hospital, Paris Blues and Lindblad Travel.
The Bridgeman Art library at www.bridgemanimages.com holds over forty images of his paintings.
His most recent exhibition in London was at the Piers Feetham Gallery, and he exhibited again in the Wylye Valley Art Trail in 2023.
He divides his time between London and Fonthill Gifford.