John Bates Noel was born John Noel Bates in Worcester in 1870. He was the son of the landscape artist David Bates (1840-1921) but later on changed his professional name to avoid confusion. The family lived in Worcestershire as well as in Birmingham and it was highly likely that he was encouraged and taught by his father as their subject matter and style bear similarities, although John's compositions tend to be more fluid and looser.

By the turn of the century Noel was living in Malvern where he also taught art. He specialised in painting the rugged landscapes in and around the West Midlands, Worcestershire and North Wales. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1893-1909 and at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists between 1892-1919. He also exhibited works at some of the major galleries of the time including the Manchester City Art Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

The building in the painting 'On the Avon' is believed to be that of St Margaret's Church at Wolston in Warwickshire. The structures at the front of the church appear to be thatched hay ricks, which are similar to ones seen in an old postcard of the church seen from the river Avon dated from around 1900.