Born in 1967, Byron Tracy Snyder spent his formative years in the small town of Grayson, Kentucky. He is the second of five children, but he was the only one of the five who showed an interest in pursuing art. As a child, Tracy enjoyed all sorts of creative expression including drawing, arts & crafts, building & invention. Upon graduating high school, Tracy received the Doug Anglin Art Scholarship and attended a year at Ashland Community College, Ashland, Kentucky. He then transferred to the Art Institute of Atlanta where he graduated with honors in 1988.

Since then, Tracy has worked as a creative director, art director, designer and illustrator. In 1994 he launched his own advertising and graphic design studio which he still operates. He has worked on a wide variety of projects for both large and small companies including; Kroger Supermarkets, General Motors, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, New England Audio, Hi-Fi Buys, Georgia Department of Transportation, Rich’s-Macy’s, Westin Peachtree Hotel, WSB Radio, IAMS, and many more.

In 2001, Tracy attempted a portrait of his first-born son as a Christmas gift to his wife. That portrait revived his interest in painting. He has been painting ever since – everything from portraits to landscapes. He has studied with artists such as Michael Shane Neal, Bill Davidson and briefly with Dawn Whitelaw. He also credits several artist friends, such as Kevin Thomas and Damon Carter, with profound influence as well as professional organizations like The Portrait Society of Atlanta and the Portrait Society of America.

His most prominent portrait is of former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr, which resides at the State University of West Georgia. He was a finalist in The Portrait Society of Atlanta’s spring exhibition in 2004 and in 2006. His work also appears among several private collections.

Byron Tracy Snyder currently lives in Woodstock, Georgia—a northern suburb of Atlanta—with his wife and four children. He is an active member of his church and is very involved with his children’s education. In addition to painting, he also enjoys woodworking, reading (especially history), and tinkering in his shop.