Teather spent his childhood in rural Norfolk, surrounded by religious imagery and books on historical painting. Expected to pursue an academic path, he instead ran away to London where his taste for both contemporary art and the bohemian life were nurtured through periods of study in London at Central St Martins and Chelsea College of Art & Design. As a student, the young artist often favoured time scrutinising masterpieces in the capital’s major museums over time in the lecture hall.
Upon completing his studies and feeling disenchanted with the conceptual art that dominated art schools at the turn of the millennium, Teather began establishing his practice as a painter in the East London art communes of the early noughties. He came to wider attention in spring 2007 when he was selected from international applications to be the inaugural Artist-in-Residence for Aberdeen Arts Centre. Following his time in Scotland, the artist returned to Norfolk where he spent over 3 years as the Artist-in-Residence for the Anteros Arts Foundation, based in their Bergh Apton venue and subsequently Norwich, before setting up a permanent studio in the city’s cultural quarter. In 2012, as a recipient of the Ruth Katzman Scholarship, he visited New York, USA, where he took part in The Vytlacil Campus Artist-in-Residence Program.