Born in Christchurch, the artist was educated at Christ\'s College and the Canterbury University College School of Art. He served in the army during World war II and after four years in a prisoner of war camp returned to receive a bursary which enabled him to travel to Europe where he studied at Sir John Cass College. On his return he settled at Peel Forest in the South Canterbury foothills and began painting the realistic mountain scenes for which he became well known, especially in the Canterbury area. Austen Deans won the Kelliher Art Award in 1962 and 1963; he was awarded second prize in 1969 and merit wards in 1959, 1965, 1967 and 1971.