His parents were John McIndoe who founded the family printing firm, and Mabel Hill the artist.
After taking over the management of the firm in 1924 he purchased colour printing machines, and the firm produced many items required for the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in 1925–26.
He understated his age to join the Army in World War II, and sailed with the First Echelon in December 1939.
There he produced over 300 landscapes, portraits and sketches, and held an exhibition of them in London when he was released in April 1945.
He retired in 1961, and in 1973–74 moved to what had been a holiday home near Māpua, in what is now the Tasman District.