Jack says that he was “lucky to have had the best of both worlds as the ceramics department at that time was a place where students were encouraged to continue with their fine art drawing and painting”. On leaving GSA Jack had a brief flirtation with the airline business before continuing his studies at Jordanhill College of Education. He was he says “ a reluctant teacher for the first few months until I realised that all the other teachers were too busy with their own problems to be bothered about me!” Thereafter Jack taught in Ayrshire for 41 years before retiring. Intending to paint, write and play golf Jack found himself teaching in a number of art and design departments for a further six years. Jack says that he “was the beneficiary of a life time teaching art and design” and he believes he got more back from his students than he was able to give them. Throughout his career Jack continued to paint and exhibit and take private commissions. He has work in private collections in the USA, Canada and in the UK.

Jack makes no secret of the fact that his work tends towards the traditional and representational, in short he strives to make his pictures actually look like the location or person.

Away from education another of Jack’s interests is golf. He is in his own words “enthusiastic but distinctly limited as a player”. Golf pictures feature prominently in his work catalogue. In most of his golf pictures he hopes viewers will see a story of sorts or at least be able to create one of their own to fit the location, Jack himself likes nothing more than a good story.

He has been a guest speaker at numerous functions. These include Rotary Clubs, Round Tables, church groups, Golf Clubs, art clubs and other notable private organisations. His topics have ranged from education to the poet Burns, golf, sport in general and art and design in practice.