Born in Wandsworth, he entered Clapham School of Art, aged 17, before being conscripted into the army at the outbreak of the war, on demobilisation he studied at the Royal College of Art, under Carel Weight and Ruskinspear, together with his wife to be, Margaret Green. He exhibited widely and supplemented his income with teaching posts. He and Margaret moved to West Suffolk where they restored a medievel house and extensive gardens.