Rowland Hill, a painter and draughtsman, was born in Belfast. He started working at the age of fourteen but always yearned to follow his artistic passions, and started taking night classes at the Belfast Technical College before studying at the Belfast College of Art. His artistic skill was greatly developed, and by the age of sixteen three oil paintings by the artist were exhibited at the Ulster Academy of Arts. He went on to show at the Royal Hibernian Academy, together with numerous exhibitions overseas. Hill finally settled in Jordanstown, County Antrim and is remembered throughout Belfast for his many one-man exhibitions.