J. Ottis Adams 8th July, 1851 - 28th January, 1927

John Ottis Adams was born in 1851 in Amity, Indiana and in his early years worked as a local merchant and part-time farmer. It was a teacher that first recognised Adams artistic talents and encouraged him to pursue it further, but it wasn't until he was 18 years old and saw Still Life with Watermelon, by William Merritt Chase that he was truly inspired.

He later left Indiana to study at the South Kensington School of Art in London, where he learnt to paint reproductions of the masters at the National Gallery. This was a standard part of his education that introduced him to a wide range of influential artists.

He continued to study with John Parker - a watercolour artist - after his graduation from the London School and in late 1874, Adams returned to the United States to begin his career as a painter and art educator.