Largely self-taught painter, apart from studies with a professional artist in Italy, Beard spent his career in the Merchant Navy, then moved to Wales in 1976 and decided to paint full-time. Mixed shows included National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 1988, and Paris Salon, 1994. Had solo exhibitions at Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff, from 1993, that show a sell-out. Beard was included in Contemporary Painters of Landscape, Gallery at St Brides, Saundersfoot, 2002, with his atmospheric Pembrokeshire Coastline. He had a solo show at West Wales Arts Centre, Fishguard, in 2004.