Born in the mid-1960s in Warrington to a working-class family, Beech was the first among his family members to complete a university education. After studying painting at Leicester Polytechnic, he pursued a master's degree in cultural studies at the Royal Academy of Art. His master's work on "tastelessness" laid the groundwork for a book titled 'The Incompatibility of Taste', which he later co-edited with John Roberts and was published by Verso. Beech completed his doctorate at the University of the Arts London. He continues his studies on Art and Marxism at CCW and the University of the Arts London. Beech is the author of "Art & Value" and "Art & Labour," both published under the HM series.