Gerald Roach was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He studied painting and drawing at the Nova Scotia College of Art and took further study in painting and mosaics at the University of British Columbia's extension courses. In a letter from Robert Setters to Charles C. Hill, the former Curator of Canadian Art, National Gallery of Canada, June 15, 2000 Robert writes, "Roach’s study in the 1950’s at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design under his mentor Neil Grant, a tough but admirable English expatriate, gave him the classical understanding of art principles and a strong foundation that later enabled him to express his broad spectrum of talents. With this training and his own inventiveness he was able to conquer the diverse styles necessary to interpret his changing environment, concepts and ideals. The large body of abstract work that he produced in Nova Scotia starting as early as the mid 1950’s was initially met with shock. When figuration returned to his work, the development was greeted with dismay by his colleagues and critics. These works, which Roach describes as the products of his “scabrous” period, share some of the characteristics of other figurative artists working in Eastern Canada at that time… Philip Surrey, Goodridge Roberts, John Snow and John Little among others. Roach moved to Penticton, British Columbia, in 1990 suffering a stroke in 2002 that left him paralyzed in his left arm and leg. Gerry was one of the original residents of The Village by the Station moving there in 2004 remaining there until his death in 2009.