George Boys was born in Johannesburg and studied at Wits Tech Art School. Held his first exhibition at the age of 32 at the Guenther Gallery in Johannesburg.

It was the first show of abstract painting ever to be sold-out in South Africa. Boys' skill allowed him to use a highly reduced palette without danger of monotony.

This continued through into his later works but with less intensity to gentler tints of blues and mauves the romantic appeal of which attracted additional viewers to his extensive public following.