Stephen Beer has spent the majority of his life in the town of his birth, Saltash, where he presently lives with his wife, artist Jo Beer. Stephen began making experimental films as a teenager, influenced by Derek Jarman, Elliott Bristow and Kenneth Anger. Later he studied Graphic Design & Photography at Falmouth School of Art, then Photomedia at Plymouth College of Art. He has worked in Art and Media education. In 2013 he and Jo were part of the group, led by John Forster, which created 'The Saltash Ferryman', a public sculpture funded by the Heritage Lottery, to conserve the history of the ferry that crossed the Tamar at Saltash for over 900 years.

Stephen currently works in the area of painting and collage.