Dioramas
1894 – 1976
Charlie Beil was born in Germany in 1894. He came to North America by the mid-1920’s, eventually settling in Montana. He was a self-taught artist who became a close friend to fellow artist Charlie Russell of Great Falls with Russell remaining a mentor and major influence to Beil up until Russell’s death. While working on a guest ranch in Montana in the 1930’s, Beil met the famous Brewster family of Banff with whom he developed a very close relationship with. Charlie moved to Banff in 1934, establishing an art studio where he created murals, dioramas, and bronze sculptures. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary in 1968 and remained artistically active until his death in 1976.