After attending Mowbray Road Junior School, Bob Renaut was a student at the SSGTSFB. He left in 1962 to go to Leeds College of Art, where he gained his Diploma in Art and Design in 1966 and the following year his Art Teacher's Certificate.

His first appointment was to the South Shields Grammar-Technical School for Boys in September, 1967, which he left in 1971.

He eventually became a lecturer at the South Shields Marine and Technical College in Art, Design and Photography where he remained until his early death, at the age of 51 in June, 1995.