President of the Royal Academy 1976-84. An architect, he was director of architecture for the festival of Britain in 1951. He was Provost at the Royal College of Art and has served on many public and national committees including the Royal Fine Art Commission, the Royal Mint Committee, and the National Trust Executive, as well as being a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.

A prolific water-colour painter, he was designed one opera at Convent Garden, three at Glyndebourne as well as three musicals in London's west End. He is an accomplished author and has written or illustrated numerous books, inlcuding The Old Man of Loahnager with the Prince of Wales. He lives in London.