Curtis Parker lives and paints in Tempe, Arizona. He attended Arizona State University and there studied graphic design and illustration. After eight years as a graphic designer, he began illustrating full time and has been painting full-time since 1986. He paints with acrylic on gessoed canvas or wood. His work includes book covers, magazine illustration, posters, advertising, institutional, and recently, a children's book.

He has worked for such clients as the Smithsonian, Hilton, Random House, Harcourt Brace, Scholastic, LA Times, and Barnes & Noble.

Many of his images have appeared in Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Print, and Communication Arts.

Every year Curtis spends a week exploring the magnificent hidden places of Lake Powell. He and his wife Marcia have three children and a dog.