John Elliot was born into a family of Scottish statesman that enthusiastically supported the arts. During his formative years, Elliot traveled extensively throughout Europe and found that a box of oil pastels and a few sheets of paper were the most practical tools for an artist on the move. After settling in the United States, Elliot expanded his talents and versatility to several areas of the arts and launched an award-winning career in film production and design. By the 1980s, however, his focus became principally oil pastel. Today, he continues to paint every day and enjoys that his book, co-created with his wife Sheila, shares his passion with a wider audience than ever.