John Hughes was born in Llanrwst, Denbighshire, Wales on 14 June 1903. He enrolled at the University of Liverpool, School of Architecture in 1926 and graduated with a B. Arch. in 1931. From 1931 to 1934 he was assistant to Lancelot Keay (1883-1974), Director of Housing, Liverpool City Council. In 1934 he was appointed Deputy Director of Housing, Manchester City Council, and from 1938 to 1946 was Director of Housing. Manchester City Council. He then moved to London where he was Director of Housing, City of Westminster from 1946 to 1950. From 1950 until his retirement in 1963 he was Principal Architect to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for Wales.
Hughes was awarded a RIBA Archibald Dawnay Scholarship in 1928 and was a Grissell Gold Medallist in 1932. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1931.
A stadium designed by Hughes for Liverpool was awarded a Gold Medal at the art exhibition held in connection with the Xth Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1932.
His address was given as 19 Storeton Road, Oxton, Birkenhead, Cheshire in 1932; and "Bwthyn", Bow Green Road, Bowdon, Cheshire in 1935 and 1939. He died in Rhos on Sea, Clwyd, Wales on 20 February 1977
Sharples, Joseph, Powers, Alan and Shippobottom, Michael. Charles Reilly & the Liverpool School of Architecture 1904-1933. Catalogue of an exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 25 October 1996 - 2 February 1997. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1996 p. 172-173 [Contains other references to Hughes, unfortunately, this very informative catalogue is not indexed]