Robert Jacks was an abstract painter, printmaker and sculptor, obtaining formal instruction at the Prahran Technical College (1958-60) and RMIT (1961-62). His first solo exhibition at Gallery A in Melbourne in 1966 sold out and his works were also included in the National Gallery of Victoria's significant exhibition The Field in 1968.

In addition to continuing with his art practice, he then held teaching positions in Canada and America, followed by being artist-in residence at the University of Melbourne in 1978. In the late 1950s, Jacks had painted works with a Spanish theme. Ken McGregor, in his monograph on the artist, observed that 'Jacks instantly loved the brooding, proud Spanish sound of Sketches of Spain, and played the record over and over while he worked. Almost thirty years later...Jacks then produced a whole new body of work based on the subjects of his earlier painting.'

Works from this later period include:
Guitar Woman, Tower Night, 1997
Flamenco, 1995
Tower Night, 1997
Espania, 1999

The new Spanish works were exhibited under the title of Sketches of Spain at the Robert Lindsay Gallery, Melbourne in 1996, followed by Olsen Carr Art Dealers, Sydney (1997) and Philip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane (1999). Jacks has held a number of solo exhibitions and his work is represented in major public, corporate and private collections.

His artistic caliber was acknowledged when he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006. A major retrospective of his work is scheduled to be held from October 2014 until February 2015 at the National Gallery of Victoria.