John Louw was born on 26 January 1949 in Namaqualand. He had an accident in 1967, at the age of eighteen, while riding his mountain bike, resulting in paralysis of all four limbs. A few years later he began to paint with the mouth. He was soon able to make progress. In 1987 he received a Scholarship from the Association. This allowed him to attend various art courses taught by artists of high standing. In 1993 he graduated in art and received a diploma.
In 1997 he became an Associate Member of the AMFPA. John Louw has a passion for scenes taken from the animal kingdom in Africa. He also likes to paint landscapes depicting his native country. His favourite techniques are oil and watercolour. Today, John Louw lives in a small South African village called De Aor. The poverty that he saw and experienced in this region led him to establish a home for homeless children. At present, this home provides accommodation for thirty-five children.
