Raised in Tulsa, OK, Mitchell Bentley was named for Maria Mitchell, his great grandaunt who is noted as the first female astronomer. He is the son of an artist who worked in oils and taught him painting. Art remained a hobby while he first worked in restaurants, then in electronics after earning an AAS in Electrical Electronics Technology from OSU.

In 1989, Mitch combined his love of science, science fiction and painting, and began studying art at Tulsa Junior Collage. In 1996, he moved to Austin, TX, where he lived and worked for four years, and in 1999, he moved to Harrisburg, PA, where he earned a BA followed by an MA in Humanities at Penn State.

Mitch has lectured at universities, worked in film, edited publications, appeared as AGoH at over a dozen conventions, and won over 35 awards. His work has been published worldwide as cover art for books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, posters, trading cards, in newspapers and fine art editions. He is a lifetime member of ASFA, as well as the current President (2010-2012).

He and his partner Cathie do business as Atomic Fly Studios, providing design and pre-press services while marketing their own line of fine art prints and photography. They currently work and live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with their spoiled cats, Spike & Zoë.