Born in 1943, David Beer originates from Whitstable in Kent and trained as a teacher at Bishop Otter College, Chichester, where he studied pottery as his main subject. He started painting at evening class whilst at Corsham, Wiltshire, where he was a Head Teacher. He also attended the St. Ives School of Painting on residential courses during this period and became captivated by St. Ives. David Beer was co-ordinator of the education working party for the St. Ives Tate Action Group, before the Tate Gallery opened.

David moved to St Ives in 1986 and taught for eleven years in Penzance, where he had special responsibility for art in the school and ran in-service art courses for teachers in the area. He retired from teaching in 1988 and is now a full time professional artist. David paints seascapes and landscapes in oils using a palette knife, and makes life studies using pastel and acrylics.