Arthur Merric Boyd was born at Murrumbeena, Victoria on July 24 1920. 3 generations of his family were artists, - his father Merric Boyd was a potter and his grandfather Arthur Merric Boyd was a noted watercolorist.
His first exhibition of paintings was held in Melbourne in 1937, and in 1958 his work was shown at the Vienna Biennale, and by 1960 when he held an exhibition in London he was an established artist with an international reputation.
His works hang in all the state galleries in Australia, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Mertz Collection in America.
Shortly before he died he established the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre at Bundanon, on the banks of the Shoalhaven River in NSW, on the property which he bequeathed to the people of Australia in 1993.
Over 2000 paintings, drawings and ceramics were also left to the National Gallery.
Awards received included the Dunlop prize in 1950 and 1951, Kuringai NSW in 1958, and Caselli Richards Brisbane in 1963.
On 24^th April 1999, aged 78 he died in Melbourne.
In 1979 he received an AO for his service to art.