Born in Hartlepool, UK in 1950, John Brobbel RBA is a painter, teacher and writer. He settled in Ireland in the 1980s and now lives and works in Dublin and is married to the artist Rose Stapleton. Brobbel studied at the College of Art, Hartlepool (1969-71), followed by Byam Shaw School of Drawing (1971-74) and then at the prestigious Royal Academy Schools in London (1974-77).

He is a member of the RBA and the Watercolour Society of Ireland and was also elected a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers. He has written two books on art technique, 'Pencil Drawing' and 'Drawing with Ink', and taught for a time at Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Cleveland School of Art.

John is a Spirit of London prize winner and has also received the William Conor award at the Royal Ulster Academy. His work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland and the UK, including the Royal Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Ulster Academy R.B.A., N.E.A.C., Cleveland International Drawing Biennial, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin, Kilcock Gallery, Kildare, Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin, and The Masonic Museum, Dublin. His work is in the collection of Trinity College, Dublin and St. James's Hospital, Dublin.