He was educated at Selwyn College, Cambridge where he held a choral exhibition and read law. During his time at University he was active in the Selwyn College music scene, and was also organ scholar and subsequently assistant organist at the University Church of St Mary the Great.

He left Cambridge to go to Law School in Chester where he sang as a lay-clerk in the cathedral under Roger Fisher.

Robert returned to Cambridge to complete his law training and, following qualification as a solicitor worked for several years for a Cambridge Law firm. He was also Director of Music at Trumpington Church, Director of the Cambridge Granta Singers and St Ives Choral Society.

In 1996 Robert decided that a life in law was not for him, and moved to Oxfordshire to try to make a living out of music. For a while he fulfilled a life-long ambition to work as a motorcycle courier while building up his work in and around Oxford. During his first few years in Oxford, he was Director of Music at the Church of Ss Mary and John, Cowley Road, Conductor of the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir and of the Lord Williams Festival Chorus in Thame. 

In early 2000 Robert became Director of Music at the churches of St Mary and St Leonard in Wallingford, and also Conductor of Henley Choral Society. In 2001 he took up the post of Director of the Cathedral Singers of Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford.

In 2003 Robert left Oxfordshire for his native Yorkshire to take up the post of Director of Music at St John's Church Ranmoor, and since being in Sheffield has also become Director of the Sterndale Singers, accompanist to the University Singers' Society, and a singing coach at SLP College, Leeds. He also continues with other freelance work, and has a small private teaching practice.