Kever was born into a well-to-do family. His mother was a friend of Jozef Israëls, who gave him a place at the studios of leading lithographers, including Petrus Franciscus Greive. When Greive died in 1872, Beetle settled as an independent painter in Eemnes, where he often worked outside. He also made interiors, mostly without figures, to avoid the cost of models.
In 1878 he followed a winter course at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp, where he studied under Karel Verlat, together with his friend Theo Hanrath who died in 1883. After this study he settled in Blaricum, but held a pied-à-terre at the Oosterpark in Amsterdam, where he stayed during the winter months.
Kever showed little desire to travel in his life. With the exception of short periods in which he worked in Nunspeet and Brabant, he always stayed in 't Gooi. In 1887 he married and bought a house in Laren, opposite Anton Mauve's 'Villa Ariette', against whom he was very fond (when Mauve came to judge a painting he hid it, saying that it had already been sold and sent, afraid as he was of his judgment).
Kever is considered part of the Laren School. He painted landscapes, portraits, still lifes and a number of townscapes, but became best known for his many sober peasant interiors from the then poor Gooi region. In his best works he puts his 'rival' Albert Neuhuys to the fore. Kever's art is sensitive and harmonious in tone and light, but always subdued and seldom emotionally charged. He made only limited use of contrasts and light effects. At a later age his fingerboard became somewhat looser and he apparently gained more self-confidence as a result of his success.
Beetle died in Laren in 1922, 67 years old. In memory the 'Hein Keverweg' is named after him in Laren.
