Ian Houston was born in Gravesend, Kent in 1934. He studied initially at the Royal College of Music and subsequently at St Martin's School of Art, London. He moved to Norfolk in 1964 where he was mentored by Edward Seago - an influence that was to inform his life's work. 

He has exhibited extensively, including shows at the Mandell's Gallery, Norwich, the Beehive Corner Gallery, Adelaide and the Portland Gallery, London. His work is held in several public and private collections including those of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.