Painter, draughtsman and teacher, born in Leicester. Johnson worked as a commercial artist, 1935–40, served in the Royal Air Force in World War II, then after a period as a commercial artist again, 1946–7, studied painting, 1947–51, at Leicester College of Art. From 1952–80 he taught in the department of advertising at Bradford’s Regional College of Art. Johnson showed frequently at RA from early 1950s, also in the provinces, notably Yorkshire. His work was included in Four Yorkshire Artists at Bradford City Art Gallery in 1961; loan exhibition works by Yorkshire artists at the Museum of Modern Art, Skopje, Yugoslavia, 1964; and Face to Face, portraits by Yorkshire artists at Sports Centre Gallery, Huddersfield, 1981. Public galleries in Bradford, Leeds and Glasgow hold his work, noted for its tenderness and compassion.