A native of the Pacific Northwest, Royal started his studies in glassblowing in 1971 and became a faculty member at Pilchuck Glass School seven years later. Through his early years, Royal worked with some of the leading artists in the field including Dale Chihuly and William Morris.  An established and respected master glassblower, Richard Royal is best known for large, abstract, blown shapes that combine broad areas of complementary color.  Approaching the vessel form as a spiritual vehicle, Royal explores notions of physical and emotional strength, power, fluidity, risk and celebration.  The first Artist in Residence at the Waterford Crystal Factory in Waterford, Ireland in 1998 and 1999, Richard Royal is recognized as one of the most skilled and talented master glass blowers in the U.S.

Selected Public and Corporate Collections
Daiichi Museum, Nagoya, Japan
High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
IBM Collection, New York, NY
Mint Museum of Art & Crafts, Charlotte, NC
Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA
Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
Price/Waterhouse, Phoenix, AZ
Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle, WA
Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL
United Parcel Service Corporate Collection, Atlanta, GA
Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA
Westinghouse Corporation, Muskegon, MI