Scottish painter John Bellany studied at Edinburgh College of Art and at the Royal College of Art in London. He grew up in the seaside town of Port Seton, and the sea, the special light effects of a seaside environment, together with the experience of life in a small provincial community, have consistently affected his work. Bellany was awarded a CBE in 1994, and in 2012 a major exhibition to mark his 70th birthday took place at the Royal Scottish Academy.