Born in Dunvant near Swansea, South Wales to a family with a strong interest in music and poetry, which remained key influences on his work throughout his career, in particular the poetry of Dylan Thomas.

He studied at Swansea School of Art, 1921-4 and then at the Royal College of Art, 1924-7, where he became increasingly interested in the work of Picasso and Matisse. From then on lived in London for the rest of his life apart from four years during the Second World War when he was Head of Painting at Cardiff School of Art.