Born in London. He spent most of the 1930s and 1940s in New Zealand where he decided to become a painter. When he returned to the UK he moved to St Ives before returning to London, however despite the short time he spent there his ties to the St Ives group continued to characterise his work. Hayman’s style was quite removed from traditional models. He said “As a painter I write poetry and as a poet I wish to illustrate it.”