Representative Artis J. McCampbell grew up in rural Greene County, Alabama. He graduated from Eutaw High School in 1971 and got a B.A. in Political Science from University of Alabama in 1976.

He began his career in law enforcement in 1975 with the City of Tuscaloosa as a patrolman. Two years later he was promoted to investigator. In 1979, Representative McCampbhell moved back to Greene County and became a Juvenile Probation Officer and in 1985 accepted a job as an investigator with the District Attorney's office of the 17th Judicial Circuit. In 1990, he began a career in insurance sales with State Farm Insurance.

Married to the former Diana England, Representative McCampbell is the father of two daughters, Erica D. Hargrove and Calida Joy McCampbell.

In his spare time he enjoys bowling, reading, singing and playing golf.