born in northampton, england, on 2 april 1929, ellis studied at northampton school of art from 1944 to 1947, before completing his national service with the photographic unit of raf bomber command between 1947 and 1949. he was awarded a scholarship to attend the royal college of art from 1949 to 1953 graduating with a diploma. ellis moved to new zealand in 1957 to take up a position as lecturer in design at elam school of fine arts. he married elizabeth aroha mountain (ngapuhi, ngati porou) in 1966. the couple have twin daughters, hana and ngarino. and three grand-children, emere, hana, takimoana. they live in auckland, in the house robert helped build in 1969-70.