Robert Tinney, an American illustrator known for his work on Byte magazine, died on February 1, 2026.
He was known for his monthly cover illustrations for the microcomputer publication over more than a decade. Tinney was among the first artists to develop a broad, consistent visual concept for the computing world, using a distinctive style and visual metaphor to reflect emerging trends in personal computing technology.
Born in Penn Yan, New York, he later moved with his family to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attended Istrouma High School, studied illustration and graphic design at Louisiana Tech University, served one tour in the United States military during the Vietnam War, and later worked as a commercial artist in Houston, Texas.
Robert Frank Tinney (November 22, 1947 – February 1, 2026) was an American contemporary illustrator known for his monthly cover illustrations for the microcomputer publication Byte Magazine spanning over a decade. In so doing, Tinney became one of the first artists to create a broad yet consistent artistic concept for the computing world, combining a specific artistic style with visual metaphor to showcase emerging trends in personal computing technology.