The Painter Who Saves Bees

Steve Downs is an artist and beekeeper based in Southern California. For over two decades, he has made it his work to remove bee colonies safely, relocating every hive to trusted sanctuary partners across the LA area.

What began as a creative hobby (painting vivid, one-of-a-kind designs on wooden bee boxes) grew into something larger. The name Beecasso started as a play on words among friends who saw the painted hives. The bees needed more than beautiful homes; they needed someone willing to get them out of walls, attics, and commercial buildings by humane relocation rather than extermination.

Over the years, Steve has removed hives from homes, schools, churches, and commercial properties across Los Angeles and Orange County. Along the way, he's served all manner of clients, every one of them glad they called. His work has been featured on Inside Edition, CBS LA, the ECC Union, LAmag, and regional news outlets throughout Southern California.