Brian was born in London in 1937 and during the war was evacuated three times to Devon and Dorset. After the war his family moved to West London where he went to Southall Grammar School. He then attended Ealing Art School for seven years where he obtained an National Diploma in Design, Illustration and Printing. He gained further professional training at the Hornsey College of Art, North London, resulting in The Art Teachers` Certificate, which was awarded by London University. In 1960 his first teaching post was at Lascelles Boys` School in Harrow, Middlesex, where he taught drawing and painting, the history of art and architecture, and printmaking to O Level standard. He was also required to teach religious knowledge, history, metalwork, woodwork, football, cricket and basketball. In 1966 he moved to Bristol to take up the position of Head of Art at Rodway School in Mangotsfield. His work involved the teaching of ceramics, which he had studied at Hornsey and attended night school classes for three years. The curriculum also involved the teaching of painting, the history of art and architecture, and printmaking to A Level standard. In 1981 he moved to the Grange School in Warmley as Head of Art.