After service as a war artist in World War I, John found fashionable success with his portraits of famous literary and society figures such as Thomas Hardy, James Joyce and Lady Ottoline Morrell.

Popularly known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, TE Lawrence became famous for his exploits as British Military liaison officer during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18. In 1919 he acted as adviser and interpreter for his friend the Emir Feisal at the Paris Peace Conference, where John painted many official portraits, including one of the Emir.