Biography

William George Walter (Bill) Beavis - Scenic Artist was born is Suffolk UK on the 9th August 1914. His interest in painting brought him to the attention of Alfred Blundell who introduced him to the Royal Academy. Bill presented a version of a self portrait of VanDyke with sunflower and on 11th December 1935 was accepted into the Academy. He was beginning to get known as a portrait artist in Cambridge when war broke out. He was called up and posted to Singapore and unhappily interned for the duration.

Following demobilization, on the 15th April 1947 started to work as a Scenic Artist at Shepperton Studios. His first film was Anna Karena a Korda Brothers film. He worked at all the main studios around London UK including Borham Wood, Elstree, Pinewood, Twickenham, Ealing, Denham. He retired on the 10th July 1979 after 32 years in the industry.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ray Young

He was a prolific painter in his spare time and painted in water, oils and lacquer. He painted landscapes and abstract images and would spend time gazing at his efforts taking weeks to get them just right.

Bill painted the stage backdrop for an Elton John concert at the Hammersmith Odeon London based on Elton John's 1974 LP cover 'Caribou', a view of the Colorado mountains. He said when Elton and the band first saw the backdrop they just stared open mouthed at it then warmly thanking him for his effort. They could not understand how you could transfer a picture 12 inches square to one of over 100 feet wide and 60 foot high.