The artist was born Henry John Manwill, but became Henry John Manwill Innes after being adopted by relatives. He was known to family and friends as 'John Innes' which is also how he signed his paintings. He graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art in 1939, having won First Prize (Equal) the previous year in the Head Study competition. He continued to paint up to his death in 1985, but, when he had a family to support, he taught Art at a school in Ealing.