Robert O'Rorke trained at the Byam Shaw School of Art and the Royal College of Art. Since then he has had several one man shows and exhibited in mixed exhibitions both here and abroad. 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, Leighton House, the Aldeburgh Festival and Discerning Eye. Besides painting he has also worked as a picture restorer and taught art in Adult Education and on Summer courses. His work is in the collections of Nottingham Council, Hammersmith Hospital, Paris Blues and Lindblad Travel. Commissions have included two large oils of Rufford Abbey for the new Council Chamber in Nottingham, and he was artist-in-residence at Garsington Opera for the 2006 season.