John Edward Dixon-Spain was born in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England, on 3 September 1878. He was articled to William Scorer (1843?-1934) in Lincoln in 1897 and worked as an assistant to Charles William English in London in 1899. Later that year he qualified as an architect, and in 1900 was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA). He commenced independent practice as an architect in London in 1900, and from 1905 was in partnership with Charles Nicholas as Nicholas & Dixon-Spain. They were joined by Lawrence Crampton in 1946, and by Frank Woolhouse in 1947.
Dixon-Spain was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1920. His address was given as The Rectory, Rand St. Oswald, Wragby, Lincolnshire in 1899; 36 Great James Street, London in 1907; 19 Hanover Square, London in 1914 and 1939. He died in Graveley, Hertfordshire, on 7 May 1955
Hovenden House, Lincolnshire; domestic work in Somersetshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Kent; and in collaboration with Arnold H. Hoole: repair and extension of Guest House, Mailing Abbey, and reredos to St. Margaret's Church. North Elmsall. Continued In partnership: — 5, Warwick Street; 54, Portland Place; 6, Vigo Street; New Gallery Cinema, Regent Street, W.; 119-121, Regent Street (Jointly with Messrs. Sir Henry Tanner); 121a-125, Regent Street (façade by Sir John Burnet and Partners); Heslaw House, Great Marlborough Street. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 188, 13 May 1955 p. 801
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 62, 1955 pp. 466-467
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914