Mel Beacham was born in the Horfield suburb of Bristol. He stood out at school for his outstanding and unique art work and became known as "Mel the Artist", a nickname he has used all his working life. After serving two years in the army for his national service, Mel spent time travelling and painting in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, before falling in love with France and living for two decades in the Pyrenees, where he painted and sold much of his work to tourists who eagerly snapped up his work. Now in his senior years, Mel has returned to Portishead where he still paints and accepts commissions.