Biography
Peter was born in London England just prior to World war II. His earliest drawings were filled with the sights of war, as he was a child growing up in the blitz and the tragedy of war.
As a young boy he had a great desire to become a missionary, especially to Africa. Testing a vocation to become a catholic priest he spent two years with the Holy Ghost Fathers discerning his vocation.
The priesthood was not to be his calling, although many years later he did travel extensively in Africa, primarily Kenya serving as a Catholic lay evangelist. His extensive travels have been recorded in a growing number of sketch books.
On leaving the seminary at eighteen Peter had to complete two years of National Service. This he did, joining the RAF and serving in early warning radar watching Russian bombers fly down the North Sea. During this time he continued his studies in art and gained his advanced level GCE in art. On his demobilization, Peter began a career in the arts as a trainee Display artist at Selfridges in Oxford St. London. At that time retail display was an art form. Meeting Madeleine who also worked at Selfridges they married in 1962 and have been married now over sixty years.
Peter & Madeleine together with three young children emigrated to Canada in 1967, joining the Bay as assistant display director here in Calgary. His career also took him into the supply and design end of the retail display field.
In the mid eighties Peter once again picked up the brushes experimenting with watercolour. At the urging of a close family friend he enrolled at the Alberta college of art for a number of extension courses in watercolour, colour and life and figure drawing.
His instructor urged him to begin offering his work for sale and was soon accepted by a number of galleries here in Calgary. In the early 90s Peter began showing his work at the western art gallery and in 2006 began showing at the Artists Studios and the western art auction.
Peter continues to paint and record his travels in watercolour which is his preferred medium.
Artist Statement
My preferred medium is Watercolour ( Aquarelle)
Currently I have moved primarily to using 300 lb medium watercolour paper.
Preferred subject matter.
Landscape and seascape.( coastal views)
Often including man's presence in the image either architecturally or with seascape, working vessels.
Work is primarily representational in style.
Focal points receive the most detail but with a loose rendering of skies and surrounding land or sea.
Currently my work is available through one major show per year. Calgary Stampede,Western art Show: Artists Studios. ( subject to jury acceptance) And my studio at my residence.