Beau Compton was born and raised in a rodeo and ranching family. Though he was initially interested in bit and spur making, he started silverwork in 1997 after his father-in-law introduced him to Vic Vasquez, a saddlemaker, silversmith and bit and spur maker. In 2006 Compton started to pursue silverwork as a full-time business, and in 2015 he was awarded the TCAA Fellowship, which — along with the TCAA Emerging Artists Competition — he credits for propelling his work to the level of TCAA membership. Beau currently resides with his wife and two children on his in-laws’ family-owned cow/calf operation. “It is a blessing to raise my children, who are the sixth generation on the ranch, in this environment,” Compton said, “and to perpetuate Western lifestyle and values.”