Michael A. E. Beach studied at Farnham College of Art, 1959-65, eventually specialising in graphic design and illustration under the tuition of Victor Ambrus, the present Time Team resident artist.

Michael then worked freelance for many publishing houses, including McMillan, Oxford University Press, Mary Glasgow and Baker, Andre Deutsch, Disney UK and on various projects for commercial television and children's television. He continued to do this during his teaching career covering 40 years with children and adults. At Sheerwater School, now Bishop David Brown School, in Woking, he was head of a large art department at a surprisingly young age. There he introduced film and video work which won many National awards and TV showings, especially animation.

After retiring from full-time teaching in 1997, Michael started exploring oil painting seriously.

Since moving to Devon seven years ago he has exhibited at the South West Academy, all years, the Royal Albert Museum Gallery, Exeter, and the Thelma Hulbet Gallery, Honiton. His work and career has recently been featured in Artists and Illustrators Magazine.

His earliest inspiration came from Arthur Rackham and Heath Robinson and he is an admirer of the work of Lucien Freud, Sir Peter Blake, Jenny Saville, and Ken Howard, as well as the work of US artists the Wyeth family, Frederic, Remington and Norman Rockwell.

Michael works from his studio in Coyton on personal painting projects, along with comissions. He runs art courses within the Seaton & District Art Society.