Graduated from Rice University, Houston, Texas, with a B.A. in Fine art (1952) and a B.S. in Architecture (1954) in addition to his career as a professional artist, he currently operates a horse ranch in central Texas. Recognized as a leading Texas watercolorist and a master in capturing light, Herb Rather uses transparent washes and the paper itself in defining the white colors of his works. He continues to capture the extraordinary architecture of Texas and values his heritage.

His work is included in numerous corporate collections: Texas Commerce Bank, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Heritage Club, Houston, Texas; Texas Gas Exploration, Richmond, Virginia; Transco, Houston, Texas;

U.S.A.A., San Antonio, Texas; and Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, Houston, Texas.

He is a member of the American Watercolor Society (Dolphin Fellow), the National Watercolor Society, and the Watercolor Art Society-Houston.