Peter was born in Dumfries in the South West of Scotland, and graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1986. He now lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he divides his time between painting and teaching Art History.

Peter is an artist who seeks subject matter both in the everyday of his own locality, and in more far-flung locations. He is well known for brightly coloured watercolours of interesting buildings, boats and street scenes. Peter exhibits regularly in the North of England, Scotland and Malta.

He received a PhD from the University of Sunderland for his thesis 'Picturing Locality: Art and Regional Identity in the North-East of England,1822-1900'.

Peter also chairs the Bewick Society.