John Bell was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1968 . His early days were spent growing up in Fife where he painted from a young age but chose to pursue a career in Architecture. John graduated from The Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow in 1993. Since then he has worked as an architect but has continued to paint and exhibit art work having undergone further study at Glasgow School of Art.

John Bell paints mainly landscapes and seascapes of Scotland, particularly along the Ayrshire coast. He is fascinated in the influence of the sky, using bold brushwork to express its changing mood and atmosphere. His paintings capture the extremes of light and colour in the Scottish landscape, from intimate woodland scenes to expansive shorelines. Whether John Bell is painting an intimate woodland scene or an expansive shoreline, his carefully composed oil paintings are always carefully crafted and communicate a strong atmospheric feel to each subject.

John Bell has developed a very distinctive, light style with an appealing colour palette successfully reflecting the coolness of the Scottish light. He is interested in the influence of the constantly changing weather, which can transform the mood in a moment. The sky often dominates his paintings and he uses bold brushwork to express the form and movement of cloud.

John Bell paintings are exhibited at a growing number of Scottish art galleries including Paisley Art Institute. His art work has also featured at a number of Art Fairs. John Bell has been represented by Red Rag Gallery since 2011.