After taking his secondary education in 1943, he studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry as well as privately.

Together with his wife, Johan Vestly twice received the Illustrasjonsprisen awarded by the Norwegian National Library Authority (Statens bibliotektilsyn).

In 1964, the husband and wife team was honored for Knerten gifter seg and in 1976 for Guro og nøkkerosene.

Norway's stamps for the 2010 Europa issue under the joint theme of children's books featured illustrates by Johan Vestly.

The stamps featured Mormor og de åtte ungene (Grandma and the Eight Children) from the seven books series written by Anne-Cath.