John Perceval was born in Western Australia in 1928. He went to school in Melbourne and having contracted polio he spent much time in hospital. In 1941, having recovered, was recruited into the army where he met Arthur Boyd through whom he was introduced to other artists such as Sidney Nolan, Peter Herbst and Albert Tucker. In 1942 he saw his first exhibited work in Melbourne. After army service in 1944, he joined others to work in the Arthur Merric Boyd Pottery, and ceramics and much of his time was spent experimenting with ceramic 'Angels'. His first one-man exhibitions were in 1948 and 1949. He studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School for some time and in 1960 he returned to painting bush and seascapes around Melbourne, sunflowers, rolling ships off Williamstown and figure paintings.

During this period he held numerous one-man exhibitions since 1942 in Australia and in Britain and abroad. He participated in a number of group exhibitions in many countries including the Angry Penguins - 'Realist Painting' with Nolan, Tucker, Boyd and other contemporaries, the exhibition of which was held in Melbourne in 1940 and in London in 1988.

He has been honoured with three Retrospective exhibitions. His first in 1966 at the Australian National University, Canberra; the second at Heide Park and Art Gallery in Melbourne in 1984 and the third 'The Art of John Perceval' at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1992.

He has been awarded the Order of Australia.