Rosey, inspired by an artistic uncle, considered himself an artist before entering kindergarten. Growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, his art heroes were comic book illustrators like Frank Frazzetta, Wally Wood, and Al Williamson.

Graduating from Pratt Institute, with a BFA degree, he began a career as an advertising art director. In this demanding profession of making print ads and TV commercials he learned to meet deadlines and discipline his creativity.

Moving to California, and determined to create his own art, he left the profitable ad agency world and applied himself to drawing, painting and especially printmaking. He began selling at local art fairs.

His reputation and skills grew and he began selling through agents nationally, Rosey left the crowded beach communities of Los Angeles for the peace and space of California's Central Coast.

Robert and his wife Barbara, also an artist, raised their family in Los Osos; were founding members of the Central Coast Printmakers; opened Granada Arts Printmaking Studio, printing thousands of their original etchings for national distribution; and founded the San Luis Artists’ Gallery, in 1999 in the Creamery, in downtown San Luis Obispo.

They moved for a year to Granada, Spain, where they both were artists-in-residence for the Fundación Rodriguez-Acosta. They returned again to work in Granada ten years later.

Rosey shares another adventure with his wife, demonstrating etching, and selling original prints at the California Renaissance Pleasure Faires. Because of its focus on history and authentic period art, the Renaissance Faires have evolved into one of their major printmaking venues.