John Edgar Platt was born in Leek, Staffordshire, England on 19 March 1886 and studied at Newcastle-under-Lyme School of Art; ; Margate School of Art in Margate, Kent; Leek School of Art in 1903-04; and at the Royal College of Art in London from 1905 to 1908. He subsequently worked as a painter, wood engraver, sculptor and medallist. He was also Principal of Leek School of Art from 1910 to 1919, Head of the Department of Applied Art at Edinburgh College of Art from 1920 to 1923, Principal of Leicester College of Art from 1923 to 1929, and Principal of Blackheath School of Art. in London from 1929 to 1939.

Platt earned a reputation for his coloured woodcuts. A woodcut by him entitled 'The Giant Stride’ was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition organised by the Society of California Printmakers in 1922. He was commissioned that year to design the poster “For the Zoo” by London Underground

He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London in 1922 and continued to do so regularly until 1946. He also exhibited at the Beaux Gallery, New English Art Club, International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, and Redfern Gallery in London; Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; and at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. He participated in the Olympic Games Art Competition in Amsterdam in 1922 and London in 1948.

During World War Two Platt was an Official War Artist attached to the Ministry of War Transport.  Several of his wartime pictures were purchased by the War Artists' Advisory Committee.

Platt wrote for various art journals including The Studio and The Artist and was the author of a number of books on the woodcut.  He was President of the Society of Graver-Printers in Colour from 1939 to 1953.

He died Hailsham, Sussex on 29 April 1967. His address at the time of his death was 50 Park Avenue, Eastbourne, Sussex.  His son Michael Platt (1914-2000) was also an exhibiting artist.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}