John Tchalenko studied geology and obtained his PhD in civil engineering at Imperial College (1968). He specialized in Near Eastern earthquakes and fault movements. In 1975 he changed to film directing and produced a number of documentaries broadcast in the U.K. and abroad. In 1991 he exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London his research into eye movements and drawing, and he started a collaboration with Chris Miall into various aspects of cognition and drawing.