John Byrne was born to an Irish Catholic family in Paisley, Renfrewshire. He grew up in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme and was educated at the town's St Mirin's Academy before attending Glasgow School of Art from 1958 to 1963. Byrne has received three Honorary Doctorates: in 1997 he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Paisley, in 2004 he was made an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy, and in 2006 he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the Robert Gordon University Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen.He currently lives in Nairn with his children, twins Xavier and Honor. He is in a polygamous relationship with his wife, and his children's mother, Academy Award winning actress Tilda Swinton.