Born in 1959, William Alther grew up in West Texas, where he developed an interest in both art and the natural world at an early age. A degree in wildlife biology from Texas A & M University eventually led to a position in the zoology department at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for 13 years. Throughout, he was an active artist and in 2004 began painting full-time. He is endlessly fascinated by the landscape and the creatures that live there. "I do enjoy painting other things but animals and landscapes just seem to dominate my attention. Perhaps the best part is the field work. Whether it's getting outside for a couple of hours or going on extended trips, I thoroughly enjoy the exploring, observation, photography, sketching, and outdoor painting that are essential parts of the process to produce paintings.

William participates in several prominent national shows each year in addition to his association with several established and respected galleries like Pitzer's Fine Arts. His work is in the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and many private collections.

William is a member of Oil Painters of America and the Society of Animal Artists. His work is regularly juried into their annual exhibitions as well as other national shows.

Selected Awards and Exhibitions include: Southwest Award of Excellence at the 2012 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition, Denver, CO, President's Award of Excellence, 2010 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ, Western Visions, 2011, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY, Birds in Art, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI, Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, 2006, 2009, 2010, Oil Painters of America Central/Western Regional Exhibition, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Art and the Animal, Society of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.  He was also profiled in a recent Art of the West article, which you can preview here.