While at school, Rosemary Hain had two intense interests and had a conflict when reaching school leaving age, whether to follow a career in ballet or art. This was resolved by winning a scholarship to East Sydney Technical College to study the Art Diploma Course. During this period at the Technical College, she met John Beeman and on his return from overseas study they were married and for a number of years, art took second place to raising a family. As the family grew up it allowed Rosemary more time to continue her artistic abilities.
At that time, Rosemary was specializing in precise black and white drawing and her skill was recognized by various scientific organizations such as the Department of Fisheries N.S.W., the Australian Museum and the Australian Museum Society, where she worked under contract for some years.
While maintaining her critical approach to drawing, Rosemary moved away from black and white scientific type work, the last one being a drawing of a tortoise, which won the graphic section of the Taree Exhibition in 1981. Recognizing the limitations of ink, she expanded to a more diverse range of materials such as charcoal pencil, conte crayon and has become an exponent of the gesso technique.
While Rosemary and John use the basic gesso technique, the difference in approach is very apparent in their individual results. Rosemary’s first exhibition in Mosman in 1985 using this technique was acclaimed by its success. The Beeman’s now live in northern New South Wales and have had a succession of sell-out exhibitions in Brisbane and are sought after by collectors Australia wide.