John earned degrees in Illustration and Fine Art from Utah State University before moving to Montana to take a position at the Billings (MT) Gazette as the Newsroom Artist. After nearly 20 award-winning years there, he followed his passion and turned his focus to painting full time, in 2002. His landscapes, wildlife and Native subjects are now in private collections around the country and around the world, and he has works in permanent collection at the Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena, MT; the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, WY; and at The Brinton Museum as well.

He keeps his home and studio in Red Lodge, MT.