Robyn Phillips-Pendleton was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. Following an innate passion for the visual arts, she pursued her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration and Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond Virginia. While attending VCU, she was a graphic artist intern with USA TODAY newspaper, in the summer of 1988. This had a great impact on her career. After receiving her degree in 1989, she became a news graphic artist and illustrator for The Prince George’s Journal newspaper, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and shortly after, the Daily Press Newspaper, in Newport News Virginia.
In 1992, she decided to pursue a career path as that of a freelance illustrator, and a professor in higher education. She was accepted into the Master’s of Fine Arts in Illustration Program at Syracuse University. While a graduate student in the program, she taught several Freshman Foundations, and Illustration courses at the University, as well as being a full time junior graphic designer in the University Publications Department.
Robyn received her MFA in Illustration in 1995, was a Master Teacher at the New York Summer School of the Arts in the summer of 1995, and in 1996 began teaching as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art, at the University of Delaware. She has created illustrations for colleges and universities, children’s CD covers, editorial magazines, and publishing companies. Her work has been featured in national and international juried shows such as the Society of Illustrators Annual 41, American Illustration Annual 18, American Illustration Online “Chosen” exhibition, and Aphrodosia, an annual publication celebrating the female form.
Currently, Robyn is an Associate Professor of Art, and area coordinator of Illustration, in the Visual Communications Program, in the Department. She resides in Newark, Delaware with her husband and son.
