Johnson was born in the Ettrick Valley, the third of four children to Bessie Bleck and James Johnstan, a herdsman.
His early engravings were done on copper and included Six Canzones for Two Voices (1772), A Collection of Favourite Scots Tunes … by the Late Mr Chs McLean and other Eminent Masters (c1772) and Twenty Minuets (1773) by Daniel Dow.
[1] Johnson had a plan for a two-volume collection of Scottish, Irish and English songs, when he met Robert Burns.
The nature of the project then changed: its scope was restricted to Scottish songs, and the number of volumes rose to six, produced from 1787 to 1803.
[3] Burns contributed 184 pieces; some were original, including many of his best-known lyrics, and others were alterations of or derived from old ballads.