About John Houston
Lived 1930 – 2008 (aged 78). John Houston was a British painter and association football player.
John Houston, (1 April 1930 – 27 September 2008) was a Scottish painter.
Houston was born in Buckhaven, Fife, raised in nearby Windygates, and educated at Buckhaven High School and Edinburgh College of Art. An early career as a semi-professional footballer with Dundee United was ended by a knee injury in 1951.
Houston taught at Edinburgh College of Art between 1955 and 1989. In the late 1950s he co-founded and exhibited at the 57 Gallery, one of the first artist-run spaces in Edinburgh. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1972 and was accorded a retrospective at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in 2005.
Personal life He was married to the painter Dame Elizabeth Blackadder until his death.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Houston's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Houston's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Houston?
Scottish painter (1930-2008)
When was John Houston born?
John Houston was born on 1 April 1930 in Buckhaven.
When did John Houston die?
John Houston died on 27 September 2008.
What was John Houston's occupation?
John Houston was a painter and association football player.
What nationality was John Houston?
John Houston was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Houston (painter)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Houston. https://biography.guide/john-houston/
MLA: "John Houston." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-houston/.
Chicago: "John Houston." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-houston/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC