Who Is John Sheeran? All About the Life of Ed Sheeran’s Dad

Most people first hear the name John Sheeran because of his son. He is the father of Ed Sheeran, one of the best-selling singer-songwriters in the world. But John Sheeran has a story of his own. He spent decades in art galleries, ran a consultancy with his wife, became a popular lecturer on great paintings, and later curated a major exhibition about his own son’s rise to fame.

This article follows John Sheeran’s life from his Irish family roots to his career in the art world, his years raising two sons in Suffolk, and the charity work he does today.

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John Sheeran’s Early Life and Irish Roots

John Sheeran grew up with strong Irish roots. He was born in London in the mid-1950s, and both of his parents came from Ireland. Ed has described his father’s side of the family as very large and Catholic.

The family also has a link to television. The Northern Irish broadcaster Gordon Burns, who hosted the game show The Krypton Factor, is a relative on the Irish side. Ed is his second cousin.

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John Sheeran’s Parents, William and Nancy

John’s father, William Sheeran, came from Belfast. His mother, Anne “Nancy” Mulligan, came from Wexford. Their marriage crossed a religious divide, and Ed later turned their story into the song “Nancy Mulligan.”

The song tells the story of Ed’s paternal grandparents, so it gives readers a rare glimpse of the family John Sheeran came from.

John Sheeran’s Career as an Art Curator

John Sheeran built his career in public galleries. He worked as a curator at Cartwright Hall in Bradford, then spent part of his career at Dulwich Picture Gallery in south London, where he served as Keeper. Dulwich is the oldest public art gallery in England.

In 2017, Dulwich invited him back to give a lecture in memory of the art historian Giles Waterfield. John Sheeran used the talk to trace how the gallery grew from a place without electric lighting into an internationally known cultural hub.

His work also shaped where the family lived. In 1986, John and Imogen left a one-bedroom flat in London and moved to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.

John Sheeran’s Wife, Imogen Lock

John Sheeran is married to Imogen Lock. She began her career in the arts too, working at Manchester City Art Gallery as a culture publicist. She later became a jewellery designer.

Their shared background in galleries and exhibitions led them into business together. The couple has remained a team at home and at work for decades.

Building Sheeran Lock

In 1990, John and Imogen founded Sheeran Lock, an independent art consultancy. They ran it for twenty years, until 2010. By 1995, they were running the business from Framlingham in Suffolk, which became the family’s long-term home.

For John Sheeran, the company meant freedom to work on his own terms. It also kept him close to exhibitions, artists and public audiences, the same interests that later shaped his lectures.

Raising Matthew and Ed in Suffolk

John and Imogen have two sons. Matthew was born in Halifax in 1989 and grew up to become a classical composer. Ed was born in Halifax on 17 February 1991. He is now 35 years old.

The family settled in Framlingham, where Ed attended Thomas Mills High School. A 2004 school report called him a “natural performer,” and his classmates voted him most likely to be famous. Both brothers went on to build careers in music, in very different styles.

John Sheeran and Ed Sheeran’s Father-Son Bond

Ed has called his father “Dab” since childhood. He even gave the nickname to a painting he donated to charity, titled Dab 2, because it was the second painting he had given his father.

John Sheeran has shared stories that show how close the family is. When Ed left a music college course after about three weeks to join a tour as a support act, John said neither he nor Imogen was surprised. He described Ed as someone developing a “fearless gut instinct.”

Ed has also thanked his parents in a memorable way. After performing in Paris in 2021, he arranged a private visit to the Louvre for John and Imogen, who had the museum to themselves for three hours. John said the experience felt like his son’s way of saying thank you.

Curating Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk

John Sheeran’s best-known project in recent years is Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk. He curated the exhibition, which opened on 20 August 2019 at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich. It ran until May 2020 and was timed to match Ed’s four homecoming concerts in the town.

John looked through the family’s collection to find early photographs and keepsakes. The display followed Ed from his school years to arena stages and included his 2004 school report, early gig posters and the “most likely to be famous” certificate from his school prom. It also featured portraits by the artist Colin Davidson and photographs by Mark Surridge. John wrote about the story for the exhibition’s accompanying book.

He explained the choice of title simply. Ed was “made in Suffolk,” and the exhibition celebrated that fact.

Charity Work and the Legacy Auction

John and Imogen wanted the exhibition to leave something lasting for Suffolk. In 2020, they set up the Made in Suffolk Legacy Auction to support children and young adults in the county.

The couple donated items from their own collection of Ed memorabilia, including a signed ticket and handbill from his first public gig at age fourteen, and Lego he played with as a child. Ed contributed the handwritten lyrics for “Perfect” and his Dab 2 painting, the first of his artworks ever offered for sale.

The money went to two causes. GeeWizz is building a playground for children with special needs, and Zest is the young people’s service at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich. The idea came after John and Imogen met Gina Long MBE, who founded GeeWizz.

Lectures and Life After Retirement

John Sheeran retired at around age 60, but he never stopped sharing his love of art. Long before the exhibition, he was known in Suffolk as an experienced and popular art lecturer. His “Discover the Great Painters” talks in Framlingham drew audiences from far beyond the town.

His lectures have continued in recent years. In March 2024, he gave an illustrated talk called “Masterpiece Paintings” at The Hold in Ipswich. The event marked the 150th anniversary of the Ipswich Art Society and raised money for its Young Artists Fund.

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Final Thoughts

John Sheeran’s life shows that a famous child does not have to overshadow a meaningful career. He spent decades in galleries, built a consultancy with Imogen, and became a trusted voice on painting for audiences across Suffolk. His sons chose music, but his own work in art and education gave the family a creative home.

Today, John Sheeran is remembered not only as Ed Sheeran‘s father but also as a curator, lecturer and fundraiser who still brings art to ordinary audiences.

FAQs About Sheeran Lock

What is Sheeran Lock?

Sheeran Lock was an independent art consultancy founded by John Sheeran and his wife, Imogen Lock, in 1990. They ran it for twenty years, until 2010.

How many children does John Sheeran have?

John Sheeran has two sons. Matthew Sheeran, a classical composer, was born in 1989, and Ed Sheeran, the singer-songwriter, was born in 1991.

Where did John Sheeran raise his family?

John and Imogen moved from London to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire in 1986, and both sons were born in Halifax. In 1995, the family moved to Framlingham in Suffolk, where Ed grew up.

When did John Sheeran retire?

John Sheeran retired at around age 60. He has kept giving public art talks since then, including a lecture in Ipswich in March 2024.

What was the Made in Suffolk Legacy Auction?

John and Imogen set up the charity auction in 2020 after the Made in Suffolk exhibition. It raised money for GeeWizz, which is building a playground for children with special needs, and for Zest, the young people’s service at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich.