John Cooper was born in Quebec in 1961, and was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. After having spent 5 years in the Canadian Navy as a marine engineer, he moved from Halifax to Toronto and enrolled in the Ontario College of Art’s printmaking program. He has won scholarships for his printmaking and was awarded 'Best Composition and Use of Line' at the Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts.

After graduation in 1989, John moved to Montreal where he spent four years creating three colour viscosity etchings and staging solo exhibitions of his work. John now resides in Toronto where he transforms stained glass into kaleidoscopes of superior design and workmanship. The precision and balance with which John constructs his works sets them apart from other kaleidoscopes. Highly collectible, John's kaleidoscopes have been presented to Prince William of the British Royal Family. Each piece is signed by the artist and always unique.