Richard Boyer began painting at an early age, first showing his work while still attending high school in Williamsville, New York. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1981 and moved to Germany to study languages at the Universität Kiel. With Kiel as a home base, he utilized the opportunity to travel and paint throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Richard met his Swedish wife, Karin, while studying at the University of Berlin. Since 1988, they have resided in Salt Lake City, Utah, where their three children were born.