 He was educated at Berkhamsted School, and worked first for his father's company before enrolling at Bartlett School of Architecture, part of University College, London.Disenchanted with the course's "beaux arts" leanings, he moved to UCL's art school, the Slade, where he was influenced heavily by cubism.On 23 July 1927, Hastings married Hazel Rickman Garrard, a daughter of Charles Frederick Garrard and had two children with her