John initially studied Stained Glass at Richmond College and Goddard & Gibbs Ltd London. From 1982-1985 he was taught painting techniques by Joan Workman, wife of United Artists President Harold Workman, and after a year in France began to sell his paintings and won several commissions. John was also short-listed for the RA Summer Exhibition in 1997.

Voted one of the winners in the Sunday Telegraph/Jessops Photography 2000 Competition, his watercolours, oils and limited edition prints can be found in galleries from Glasgow to Cardiff and he has sold work to private and corporate collectors in UK, Canada, USA and France.