Ky Betts was born in Storm Lake, Iowa in 1974.  He attended college at the University of South Dakota where he received a degree in Music.  It was there that he met his wife Amy.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and spent the next 13 years performing as a trumpet player in various Army Bands around the world.  In 2008, he deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division Army Band in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  It was during this deployment that Ky rekindled his passion of drawing and after separating from the Army in 2010, he moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania to study Illustration at Marywood University.  Ky has immersed himself in his education, exploring all facets of illustration from sculpture, to oil, to digital illustration and painting. His list of influences expands daily and includes such artists as N.C. Wyeth, Al Williamson, Alphonse Mucha, Alex Raymond, Winslow Homer, and Ed Emshwiller. Much of Ky’s artistic inspiration stems from the illustrations of the 1940’s and 50’s. He has always held a tremendous fascination with and love for Pulp Illustration. His painting Husbands, Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em represents his first gallery submission.

Ky and Amy currently reside in Scranton, Pennsylvania with their two children Nora and Alfred.