After service at sea during World War 2 John Thorne trained and practised as an Architect, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Institute in 1965. Some sixteen years ago he sold his practice and attended the Fine Art Department of Bournville College. He has a Studio at his home in Leicestershire where he runs evening classes, he also is the tutor for Summer Schools held by Local Authorities in Northampton, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Loire in France.
His one man shows have been held in venues as far apart as Lagos and Lisbon in Portugal to Brockville in Canada.