Born in 1050. He studied at University College London, registered as an architect, then attended the Royal Collegs or Art, where films programmed by avant-garde film historian Dave Curtis provided inspiration for Keiller's later filmmaking ventures. After exhibiting audio-visual installations at the Tate Gallery in 1982, he made a series of short films juxtaposed imagery of the urban landscapes of London suburbs, Norwood and Stonebridge Park, with fictional narration.