Robyn Belton grew up on a farm near Wanganui, then went on to study painting at the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts. Married with three children, Robyn lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. Robyn's first storybook was The Duck in the Gun, written by Joy Cowley.

She has won the Russell Clark Medal for Illustration twice (for Duck in the Gun, and Herbert the Brave Sea Dog). With many major awards to her name, in 2006 Robyn was awarded the prestigious Margaret Mahy Medal.