Part of the New Light Prize Exhibition 2020

Peter Layzell has been painting and exhibiting his work since leaving Coventry Polytechnic in 1984. His introduction to painting came at an early age when he sat watching his grandfather paint from his shed at the bottom of the garden. He has since been a regular contributor to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition since 1986 (winning the Young Painter’s Prize in 1990) has also shown at the Mall Galleries, London and the National Portrait Gallery. He has had three solo exhibitions with the Portal Gallery (now Portal Painters). He continues to exhibit with Portal Painters, showing at the major art fairs in London throughout the year.

Peter was described by the The Spectator’s art critic Laura Gascoigne as “a contemporary painter with a traditional command of chiaroscuro”, and his painting “Fathers and Sons” was featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s “500 Portraits”.

Peter continues to paint and draw in his studio at his home in Morecambe, where he has worked since 2010. He has lived in Lancashire for over 30 years and has taught at colleges in Lancaster, Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn. He continues to encourage the development of painting and drawing in young people who are, he says, as enthusiastic about painting and drawing as ever.