Grant Speed, a celebrated Western sculptor, was born in 1930 in San Angelo, Texas. In his youth, there was little indication he would become an artist, as his early interests were centered on riding and roping. During high school and the years that followed, Speed worked as a cowboy on his uncle's ranch and later on neighboring ranches, becoming a skilled horse breaker. His talents eventually led him to the rodeo circuit, where he pursued a career as a rodeo rider.

At 18, Speed enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for two years. Over the next seven years, he worked as a cowhand and rodeo rider, completed a three-year mission for his church, and attended college. In 1958, he married Sue Collins, with whom he had three children. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Brigham Young University in 1959 and supported his family as an elementary school teacher, living in Provo and working in Salt Lake City.

While teaching, Speed nurtured a growing passion for art. Reflecting on his artistic journey, he once said, "Having come from conservative West Texas, I really wanted to be the world's best cowboy. Yet every time I got a chance to be around any kind of western art, I couldn't stop reading about it, looking at it, and studying it." His first experiment with sculpture involved using his daughter's school clay. Initially, he kept his artistic pursuits private, even hiding his work whenever visitors arrived.

Speed’s first serious sculpture was created in an art class at BYU, which he had cast and gifted to his wife. The remaining nine casts sold quickly, providing the encouragement he needed to pursue art more seriously. For eight years, he balanced teaching by day and sculpting by night, often working until the early morning hours. Reflecting on that period, he said, "I probably did twelve to fifteen years of work in the first eight. It took dedication and intensity in knowing that, boy, you've made up your mind to do it now."

In the mid-1960s, Speed left teaching to dedicate himself fully to art. His career gained momentum, and in 1965, he joined the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America (CAA), serving multiple terms as president and earning numerous awards for his work.

Speed’s notable commissions include a monumental sculpture of Charles Goodnight for the Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon, Texas, and a sculpture of Buddy Holly for Lubbock, Texas. His Keepin’ an Eye on the Riders was chosen as a gift for actor Jimmy Stewart by BYU in 1985, and in 1990, he created a life-size monument of Texas Tech University’s mascot, The Red Raider. He was also commissioned to sculpt a likeness of John Wayne.

Exhibiting extensively across the West, Speed described his style as "Loose Realism," marked by his passion for the subject matter and an aggressive use of texture. His works, whether small or monumental, often capture movement and energy, as seen in Recoverin’ the Stolen Horses. Dr. Vern Swanson, Director of the Springville Museum of Art, referred to Speed as a "Cowboy Western Impressionist," praising his ability to combine technique and action.

Carefully researched and meticulously crafted, Speed’s sculptures explore themes such as man’s relationship with nature and the enduring bond between man and horse. He believed each bronze piece was unique, remarking, "It's my feeling that each bronze is an original, because in any edition none of the sculptures are exactly the same."

Speed’s work has been featured in the Phoenix Art Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art in Cody, Wyoming, and other esteemed institutions. His accolades include the Gold Medal for Sculpture from the Cowboy Artists of America Annual and the Purchase Award from the Phoenix Art Museum's Men's Art Council. His sculptures are held in notable collections, including the Whitney Gallery of Western Art and the Diamond M Museum.

Today, Grant Speed and his family reside in Lindon, Utah. Reflecting on his life, he describes it as a good one, though he admits, "sometimes I’d really rather be cowboyin’."