Born in Croydon, Brooker began his artistic career at the Croydon School of Art, and later studied at the Chelsea School of Art and Goldsmith’s College School of Art. By 1953, Brooker was head of painting at Willesden School of Art. Whilst continuing to exhibit his distinctive paintings with the London Group and later with galleries such as Arthur Tooth & Sons, Brooker lectured at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. His work is represented in numerous collections across the world, such as those in Canada, Australia and Brazil.