As a young man John Skeaping won all the important scholarships available for sculpture: The British Institution, The Royal Academy Gold Medal and Travelling Scholarship and The Prix de Rome amongst others. He taught sculpture at several art schools in England and was professor of sculpture at The Royal College of Art.

Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1951 and full member in 1960, he has exhibited in most European countries, South Africa, South America and the United States and has works in several public exhibitions, The Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum and Tokio Museum, as well as the Windsor Castle Royal Collection.

Skeaping has a world reputation as the leading sculptor and draughtsman of horses and his works are to be found in most of the important private collections where horse art is prized.