Rio Deleen grew up on the United States' west coast and Colorado where she was influenced by her love of nature and art. She received a BA, a major in Fine Arts and Interior Design at the University of Northern Colorado.

"The creative process was with me since I was five years old," said Rio. "I could see visions of my tree houses before they were built. My artistic creativity started at about the age of 18, with interior design and art. It has been with me my whole life."

After working in the United States, Canada and Japan as an art teacher and an interior designeer, she started her life-long dream. This was to study and paint the radiant light and colour of the Impressionism. Her teachers are Susan Sarback, founder of the School of Light and Colour in California, adn Diane Williams, teacher and student of Light and Colour in Vancouver, BC.

Pastels are Rio's media of choice, in addition to her work in metalic paints and mixed media which she developed from Sho Painting in Japan.

The subject matter Rio chooses for her pieces vary between still life, landscapes en plein air and abstract. 

Rio has shown her work at juried art shows in Los Angeles and Vancouver. She works in the Interior Design field and lives in Kitsilano, Vancouver near the ocean, mountains and nature.