John Houston RSA was born in 1930 in Buckhaven, Fife. His father was a haulier, contractor and horse dealer and Houston, as a boy, rode at Musselburgh races. At Buckhaven High School he excelled at football and won an under-21 international cap playing for Scotland against England. He went on to play for Dundee United as a part-time professional until a knee injury ended his career. John attended Edinburgh College of Art at the age of 18 studying under William Gillies and Robin Philipson.
Upon graduation, after a few months travelling in ltaly, he returned to join the staff in at the college in 1955. During the following year he was married to the painter Elizabeth Blackadder RSA, a fellow student during his studies there. Houston was a dedicated teacher and became Deputy Head of the School of Painting and Drawing holding the position until his retirement in 1989.
In 1957 he helped to found the 57 Gallery in Edinburgh, where he had his first Solo Show the following year. John was best known for his landscapes inspired by the East Coast of Scotland, and especially the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth. Houston and his wife lived in Edinburgh but they travelled a good deal; frequently to ltaly (Venice in particular), France and Japan. Houston was honoured in his own lifetime. He won the Guthrie Award at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1964, the Cargill prize at the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts in 1965 and the Sir William Gillies Prize. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1972.
