John Hamilton attended the Glasgow School of Art and Design where he specialized in Illustration. He joined Penguin in 1997 as Art Director and is responsible for art directing Penguin General's hardback imprints, Viking, Hamish Hamilton, Michael Joseph, Fig Tree and Penguin Ireland, as well as its Penguin paperback editions. He lives in Lewes, East Sussex, with his large collection of old cookbooks, his family and lurcher, Tess.