In 1994 with the privatisation of the rail network in full swing, John left the industry and began working for himself. He is now a prolific painter of the Fenland Washes and Wetlands where the wide skies, watery reflections and huge flocks of wintering wildfowl provide a unique beauty and endless inspiration. Formative years spent wandering these washes and riversides, chiefly as an angler but with a little poaching and wildfowling thrown in, have instilled a deep love of the fens and the wild open spaces, which are now so often depicted with brush and paints.

John usually works in water colours but is happy to paint in oils, acrylics or any other medium including the creation of large-scale murals.

Further a field, painted subjects include the glorious North Norfolk coast and the beauty of the West country where timeless scenes from places such as Brancaster, Burnham Overy, Cley, Sheringham, Penzance, The Lizard and others can be seen exhibited at a variety of locations.

In recent years John has been very busy painting to commission and a wide range of subjects have needed his attention: pets, boats, aircraft, houses and vintage cars to name but a few.