Steven Armstrong is the second of three children born to a geologist father and artist mother. He grew up in various parts of rural Canada until the Armstrong family moved to the west coast in 1966. They settled in Vancouver and spent summers on rugged Gambier Island at the mouth of Howe Sound. As a member of an artistic family, Steven developed a deep, early interest in visuals arts, music, and language. After graduating high school in the early 1980’s, he attended Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. In addition to his “practical education”, Steven spent time practicing Graphic Design, and traveling extensively throughout Asia and Europe. In 1996 Steven settled on Vancouver Island, where he has been painting professionally since 1997.