John Evans established his printing, bookselling and patent medicine vending business at 41 and 42 Long Lane, Smithfield, London about 1791. His specialities as a publisher included broadside ballads, children's literature, and chapbooks. From 1797 to 1799 he was printer to the Cheap Repostitory Tract society. He is thought to have entered various partnerships after 1800, and registered printing presses at other addresses, though the family base remained at 41-42 Long Lane. From about 1813 Evans was in partnership with his son John Edward Evans as Evans & Son and later included another son, Charles, as Evans & Sons. After John Evans' death, his sons continued in partnership until about 1829. After this, John Edward Evans continued to trade alone in Long Lane until 1856.
