In 2000 after setting up a studio at home John started to become involved in fine art releasing works around local galleries in Belfast and auction houses across the city north and south of the country there his works became popular with collectors near and far and there was a lot of interest in his canvas painting.

In 2008 he held his first exhibition in Belfast at his local library exhibiting 30 works on east Belfast’s industrial past some which involved The Ropeworks and famous factories in Belfast as well as Titanic and Harland and Wolff’s history.

A year later he exhibited at the Square Space gallery Belfast his works involved Belfast’s past the way we lived and worked in early times some works focused on streets and buildings as well as Titanic and Harland Wolff. A while later he took part in a joint exhibition at the Higgin Gallery Malone house with another local artist which was focused on the Titanic a year before the ships centenary. He continued to carve his name across the city sign writing and painting murals with community based projects province wide also.

In June 2011 he exhibited over 60 works at Gormley’s Fine Art on a online auction studio sale as it was 100 years of the Titanic’s Launch there it took a lot of interest and was a great success.