Originating from Northampton, he became a St Ives exhibitor in 1955, when he began to exhibit nationally and internationally, and taught sculpture at the Central School of Arts and Crafts until about 1960.  He visited West Cornwall in the 1950s, moving around with the circle that included Denis MITCHELL, Patrick HERON, Wilhelmina BARNS-GRAHAM, and Roger LEIGH. Davies notes that Adams 'considered a move to St Ives in 1968 but had been discouraged by the distance from London.'  He had already spent a year in his student days working in St Ives, and later was to rent a St Ives cottage (1975-6) while teaching sculpture at Falmouth College of Art.