Born West Hartlepool, 1935

Basil Beattie studied at the West Hartlepool College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools in London. He had a long teaching career including Goldsmiths in the 80’s and 90’s where he taught amongst others the painter Fiona Rae (also in the University art collection). He was influenced by the American Abstract Expressionists in the 1950’s and then in the 60s and 70s he became more interested in work where there was no trace of the artist’s hand in the finished artwork. In later works he began to develop a distinct pictographic language and an interest in apertures, doors and tunnels.

Beyond Yonder