The son of a weaver, he was apprenticed to a coach painter, but went on to become the founder of the Norwich School of painters, of which John Sell Cotman is another famous member.
John Crome worked both in watercolour and oil. His oil paintings alone number in excess of 300. Many can be seen at major galleries around the world, including the Tate Gallery and the Royal Academy.
He also produced etchings and taught art.
His son, John Berney Crome also became a well-known painter.
Crome's Broad and nearby Crome's Farm, to the west of the River Ant and north of How Hill in The Broads National Park are named after "Old Crome".