John Piper was born in Epsom, Surrey. Studied at Richmond and Kingston Schools of Art and Royal College of Art in 1926-9. First solo show at London Gallery in 1938. Member of London Group in 1933 and 7&5 Society in 1934-35. From 1940 for about 20 years held one man shows with Leicester Galleries. Retrospective exhibitions held at Museum of Modern Art in Oxford in 1979 and Tate Gallery in 1983. The Tate, Arts Council and many provincial galleries hold his work.