Andy Beck Profile
Profile: Andy Beck was my first documentary commission—filmed with a borrowed camera, edited on a second-hand laptop, and made while wearing plimsoles up on Bowes Moor.
I had no formal training, barely understood the settings on the Sony PDX10 I’d borrowed, and no real plan. But somehow, this little film marked the beginning of everything.
A Lucky Break in Barnard Castle
At the time, I had recently moved to Barnard Castle, trying to find my feet after leaving a freelance editing job in London. I’d made a simple video about myself—just to test the waters—and by a stroke of luck, Anne Allen, a local resident and member of Barnard Castle Vision, saw it. She reached out with an offer that changed the direction of my career: “Would you make a film about my friend, Andy?”
I said yes—without hesitation, but with absolutely no idea what I was doing.
Meeting Andy Beck
At the time of filming, Andy Beck was a painter, fell walker, and the owner of Teesdale Gallery, nestled in the heart of Barnard Castle. He was known for his detailed watercolours and countryside scenes, often inspired by walks through the North Pennines and the Lake District. His quiet dedication to capturing the landscape—especially its wildlife—left a deep impression on me.
From the moment we met, it was clear that Andy sees the world in ways most of us don’t. He told me, “I’m just so interested in seeing everything—the sweep of the landscape, the wildlife, the weather. All of those things inspire me to paint.” His process was intuitive but precise—starting with rough sketches in the field and refining them into full compositions in his studio.
Today, Andy Beck is a successful painter and YouTuber, with a loyal following who tune in to watch his creative process unfold. His Wainwrights in Colour project has become a widely recognised body of work, and it’s wonderful to see how far he’s taken his passion—both on the canvas and onscreen.
Plimsoles on the Moor
We filmed the walk up to the moor near Howick, Middleton-in-Teesdale. I had no waterproofs. Just my hoodie, a tripod I wasn’t sure how to use, and plimsoles that were soaked through within minutes. The conditions were far from ideal—windy, wet, and cold—but Andy reminded me that those very conditions often make the best paintings. “They make you work quicker,” he said, grinning as he knelt down to sketch in the drizzle.
We stopped as he described his process—how he chooses compositions, why wildlife matters more than a perfect view, and how people connect more deeply with his work when they know the story behind it.
“People come into the gallery, talk to me, and I tell them where the painting was made, how it came about. That means more to them than just a painting of a dale.”
A Painting Takes Shape
Back at the gallery, I filmed him starting a watercolour painting based on the sketches from our walk. He blocked in the fells, the rock, the colours of the grassland. The final frame showed the finished piece—vibrant, framed, and hanging proudly on the gallery wall.
One line has stayed with me ever since:
“I could paint moorland and mountains just as they are. But what makes them come alive is the wildlife within.”
That simple statement encapsulated both Andy’s philosophy and the kind of filmmaking I wanted to pursue.
What I Learned
I didn’t know how to mic properly. I didn’t understand exposure or colour grading. But I knew that Andy’s story mattered. That instinct—to follow the story, to trust people, to keep things simple—has guided me ever since.
From those first fumbled shots came my entire career. It was the start of a journey that’s led me to film artists, academics, and heritage projects across the UK. But this first film remains one of the most meaningful.
Thank You
Thanks to Andy Beck for his warmth, patience, and for letting a rookie filmmaker trudge beside him through the moorland with soggy shoes and a million questions. And a heartfelt thank you to Anne Allen, who believed in me when I had no portfolio, no reputation—just a willingness to learn and a desire to tell stories. That trust gave me the start I needed.