Jack Sommers, son of the painter John E. Sommers, was initially interested in taxidermy, but turned his attention to art. He studied at the School of Design, National Gallery of Victoria Art School from 1896 to 1901. On active service during World War I (August 1914 - February 1918), he painted in Egypt and France. An exhibition of these paintings was held at the Arts and Craft Society rooms in Melbourne in December 1918. Sommers settled in Sydney after the war and was a contributor to the Bulletin and the Lone Hand.

Sommers started the Lux Illustration Company. His paintings are held in Australian regional galleries.