Born in the Transvaal on 25th July 1937. He matriculated at the Middelburg High School (TVL) and studied art at the Pretoria Teachers Training College. He commenced his career as a teacher in Pretoria and was eventually seconded to the Goudstad Teachers Training College as Lecturer in Art.

There followed a permanent appointment as Art lecturer at the Pretoria Teachers Training College, but he has now resigned and become a professional painter.

Johnnie started painting somewhat late in his life because of his very active sporting career.

He held his first one-man exhibition at Saambou-Nasionale in 1972 where he sold all of his 91 paintings. His second one-man exhibition, also in Pretoria, was held at Schweiderdt's in 1973 where again he sold all of his 96 paintings. This was followed by several successful exhibitions in the country.

His most important commission came from the Middelburg City Council for a picture of a Holy Communion at the Dutch Reformed Church - a work which now hangs in the Mayor's office.

Johnnie de Kock paints exclusively in water colours and employs several techniques to achieve interesting effects. There is great diversity in his subject matter and he considers basic sketching of major importance.