René Hébert was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 1932. He learned about drawing by observing his father, who painted during his leisure hours. His taste for the arts developed gradually, leading him to study at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal. He began his career as a graphic artist in a major art house in Toronto before dedicating himself fully to painting.
Hébert has exhibited his works in galleries since 1970 and is considered a notable contemporary creator. He set up his studio near the sea at Sainte-Anne-de-Kent along the Northumberland Strait in New Brunswick, where he raised his family. His paintings explore rural life and the landscapes of Eastern Canada — particularly New Brunswick and Nova Scotia — with bold, expressive colours and an economy of brush strokes. His works are featured in the collection of the Art Museum of New Brunswick (now the Beaverbrook Art Gallery).
