John was born in Dorchester and was encouraged to draw at an early age by the painter Phyllis Sparey who had been a student at the Farnham School of Art in the early thirties and was much influenced by Christopher Wood.

John turned his attention in early years to ceramics and learnt to throw and make slipware under the guidance of the potter Len Stockley.  Following this period he returned to Dorchester and became a full-time potter at the same time maintaining a contact with Phylis Sparey.

Recently he has renewed his interest in painting and has been pleasantly surprised at the interest in his work.