John Frederick French (1925–2015) was a self-taught artist and cartographer best known for his richly illustrated maps of Suffolk and Essex villages, including East Bergholt, Dedham, Lavenham, and Manningtree. Born in Spring Lane, East Bergholt, he was the youngest of three children and served in the Royal Navy before returning to work at Lawford Place. He met his future wife, Betty Smith, after her family took over the Red Lion pub following the war. Encouraged by Betty’s father, an amateur painter, French began to paint seriously and developed a lasting passion for capturing village life. The couple married in 1953 and built their home, Bakers End, on the old heath. French’s pictorial maps took around 18 months each to complete and are prized for their detailed, affectionate portrayal of local buildings, characters, and landscapes. Though he never attended art school, French became a respected figure in the local arts scene, known for his humour, storytelling, and deep love of the Suffolk countryside. His maps reflect his distinctive style—part map, part memory, and entirely personal. His work remains rare and popular among collectors of East Anglia local history and vernacular art.
