John Coburn studied at the National Art School in Sydney, where he subsequently became a teacher, and eventually Head of School. In 1980, John Coburn was awarded the Order of Australia (AM), and in 1991 he received an Hon. D. Litt, James Cook University , Townsville. He has exhibited widely in Australia , Paris , New York , Washington and Hong Kong.

Reknowned as an abstract landscape painter and tapestry designer, John's work depicts the beauty of nature and the spiritual relationship with landscape. Having designed two large tapestries for the Sydney Opera House curtains, and a series of seven for the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington , John's style is internationally respected and his paintings are represented in the National Gallery, all State and many regional galleries in Australia , as well as private and public collections in Europe.