Don Weller is a Western painter and illustrator based in Oakley, Utah, whose work is rooted in a lifelong connection to horses, the rodeo, and the landscapes of the American West. Raised near Pullman, Washington, Weller spent his childhood riding along the Palouse River and drawing horses and cowboys—early passions that would shape both his life and career. He earned a degree in Fine Art from Washington State University before moving to Los Angeles, where he built a distinguished career in graphic design and illustration spanning several decades.
Weller’s clients have included Time magazine, The Hollywood Bowl, the National Football League, Warner Brothers Records, several major airlines, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He designed five postage stamps for the United States Post Office and created numerous record album covers for Capitol Records, as well as magazine covers and national advertising campaigns. Alongside his professional practice, Weller taught graphic design at UCLA and illustration at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
Returning to the rural West after years in Los Angeles, Weller now lives with his wife, Cha Cha, where he rides cutting horses and focuses on painting. His Western paintings have received numerous honors, including the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for his memoir Don Weller: Tracks, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, and an Honorary Doctorate from the San Francisco Academy of Art. His work has also received the Jones Award from the Bosque Art Center, the Steel Dust Award, and multiple Best of Show distinctions. Weller’s paintings are held in museum collections, and he is represented by galleries across the United States.