Dennis Minor was born in Hartselle, Alabama, and later made Huntsville his home. A Vietnam veteran, Minor owned and operated a sporting goods business in Huntsville for several years before devoting full-time to his art career. Even then he did paint in a room that was set apart from the rest of the store. His exposure to sporting supplies and his love for the outdoors led him to develop a deep passion for the sport. Minor developed an interest in art as a youngster due to a cousin and his grandmother, but he had no formal training outside of what he picked up in high school art classes. His art captured national Ducks Unlimited exposure in the early 1980s, and he eventually was named a 1996 and 1999 Ducks Unlimited National Artists. In 2000, he was named Ducks Unlimited International Artist of the Year, and in the year following, he was the National Artist for the National Wild Turkey Foundation. His love for sporting still life painting, game pieces, and sporting antiquities evolved into a rather unique form of portrait art. Sportsmen across the United States commissioned Minor to paint works featuring their personal shotguns, decoys, and sporting collectibles all to become what one collector calls “sporting heirlooms.” As an ardent hunter and fly fisherman, Dennis Minor believed that sportsmen are the foundation of wildlife conservation. Minor strived to ensure his work as a sporting artist directly benefited conservation efforts. He was also involved in promoting waterfowl and wetlands conservation as a member of Ducks Unlimited.