Colin Orchard was born in Ewell, Surrey and began his occupational life as a typographer and lay-out artist for The Times newspaper. For 10 years he worked as an Art Director for Letraset International, before taking up freelance graphic design.

Coming to St Ives in 1983 from Dorking, he has had many solo exhibitions and mixed shows in local and national venues such as the RA Summer Exhibitions, David Messum (London), Medici Gallery, New Grafton Gallery, Penhaven Gallery (St Ives). In 2007 he was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists.