Painter / Printmaker Bryan Wilson was born Herbert Bryan Wilson Jr. Jan 3, 1927, in Modesto, California.  He entered Stanford University in 1943 at the age of 16 having skipped the last year of high school.  Originally a pre-med major, he changed his major to art in his third year.

He married fellow student Joan Clay in 1948 but separated shortly after.  In 1954 he married Maureen Watkins. Their son Bryan was born May 1955, a daughter, Rebekah, was born in May of 1956 and another son, David, was born in 1957.

In the spring of 1955 he received the first place award in the annual juried exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Art.

His art was exhibited at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, Stanford Art Gallery and the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento. His pieces were purchased the M.H. deYoung Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, Bechtel Corporation, and private collectors including Nelson Doubleday and Paul Mellon.

Wilson lived in California most of his life including Danville, Mendocino and Santa Rosa.  He was known primarily for his animal and bird images and kept a number of large animals on his property, including cheetahs, a mountain lion and a wolf.

Bryan Wilson died on August 2, 2002 in Santa Rosa, California.