Born in England in 1926, he also spent time in his youth in China, and served as a captain in the British Army in India in 1944. He was educated at the Royal College of Art and Bournemouth College of Art, where he studied with sculptor Jacob Epstein. After teaching at the University of Natal in South Africa from 1956 to 1962, John moved to New Brunswick with his wife Kathy and three small children, where he had been offered a job to establish the art program for Saint John schools. For many years he worked as a teacher and administrator before devoting himself full-time to art in 1974.

During his time working as a full-time artist, from 1974-2002, John completed eight large commission pieces as well as many smaller, private works – which included sculptures and paintings. In 1997, The Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick held a retrospective show of John’s life and work which featured more than 40 pieces. A book, The World of John Hooper, was published in conjunction with this show.