Beesley was born in
Eccleshill,
Bradford.[7] He studied at Bradford Art College and Bournemouth & Poole College of Art.[8]
Since the late 1970s, he has documented the changing social landscape of
Northern England, particularly in Bradford.[2][3][9] He photographed
Salts Mill in Saltaire as it was closing down in 1986.[10] He spent five years working on the series The Art of Clubbing, about
nightclub culture in the UK.[11]
He was course leader for the MA in photography at the
University of Bolton in Greater Manchester.[4]
Publications
Books
Where Sky & Water Meet. Arts Council, 1982.
Through the Mill. NMPFTV, 1987.
Victorian Bradford. Ryburn, 1987.
Now I can tell. McMillan, 1990.
Warwickshire Hatters. Ryburn, 1988.
Calderdale. Ryburn, 1988.
Victorian Manchester & Salford. Ryburn, 1988.
Leeds Architectural Heritage. Ryburn, 1993.
A Place of Work. The Keeled University press, 1995.
Claret & Amber. Darkroom/NMPFTV, 2000.
Building Sights. Leeds City Council, 2001.
The Power, the Pride, the Passion. Darkroom, 2001.