Bellany trained at the Edinburgh College of Art between 1960-65 under Sir Robin Philipson, and at the Royal College of Art in London under Carel Weight between 1965-68. He was strongly influenced by the Max Beckmann exhibition at the Tate in 1965, and from 1969-73 produced a series of paintings which used a complex system of personal symbols taken from his home, including seagulls, puffins and fish.