For 4 years, beginning in 1966 at age 14, Beckwith served as an apprentice of Leon Koury – a sculptor who was Director of Delta Art Center in Greenville.

[1][4] Between 1970 and 1974, Beckwith attended the University of Mississippi where he obtained BFA and MFA degrees in sculpture.

[5] In 1976, Beckwith and artist Wallace Mallette established the first commercial fine arts bronze foundry in Mississippi.

By 1986, Beckwith had ceased casting for other sculptors to concentrate on his own artistic work at his studio in Taylor.

[1] For 18 years, Beckwith taught courses in figure drawing, sculpture, and 3-D design at the University of Mississippi.