Philip Betts was born in July 1939 in Surrey.

He studied for three years at Shoreditch College, qualifying as a teacher of Technology. Throughout his studies and as part of his final year project he showed a strong interest in the ancient trade of the Farrier. He began his career working at Purley Grammar School.

In 1965 he married a Parisian called Nicole, his daughter Lorna and son Paul being born in 1967 and 1968 respectively. In 1970 the family moved to Paignton in Devon when Philip became Head of Craft, Design and Technology at King Edward VI a school in Totnes.

Philip possessed and developed a vast range of skills in woodworking, metalworking and technical drawing. It was in the last ten years of his life that his inspiration and these skills gave birth to his artwork some of which is shown here.

He taught technical drawing to his students and followed closely developments in electronics as the era of personal computing approached.

Philip worked at King Edward VI for fifteen years until, in 1985, he developed Leukaemia. Deciding to retire on the grounds of ill health he fought an inspiring battle for life for 13 months and died at his home aged forty-six.