Upon gaining grade A in all aspects of art from school, he went on to do a BA Hons in photography at Hereford College of Art and Design.

Capturing an image on a camera lets him look back at the image later and helps him to create a painting. Studying photography was very useful, but his true passion remained in painting. Years ago and up until recently he had all sorts of manual SLR cameras which he used for his day to day shooting. But now he finds himself moving quickly over the landscape and running with a heavy phone is no longer practical. So with the advancement of phone technology he travels light and searches out that all important view.

Following art school he had a career change. Living in Hereford, Cardiff & Nottingham before returning to Cumbria in 2008

After a long creative break , he resumed painting again in 2019 ("Alp d'Huez" being his first in 2019) and his current portfolio is across a span of 5 years up to 2024

Johns interpretation of the mountain landscape is unconventional, different and emotive.