Peter Graham ROI, RSW, born in Glasgow in 1959, studied at Glasgow School of Art between 1976 and 1980, under influential tutors such as Barbara Rae CBE, RA and David Donaldson, Painter and Limner to Her Majesty the Queen, later exploring mosaic and mural design with George Garson.
Following art school, Peter applied his visual sensibility to film-studying filmmaking in London (1980-82) and working as a film editor for the BBC (1982-87). However, the allure of painting proved irresistible. Returning to art, he embarked on a highly successful career as a painter.
In 1990, Peter was honoured as the first UK Painter in Residence at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore through a British Council award. His expertise and leadership in the visual arts were recognized when he served as Advisor for Visual Arts to the Scottish Arts Council from 1994 to 1996.
As his reputation grew, Peter Graham was elected a full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) in 2000, later serving as Vice‑President from 2004 to 2005. In 2023, he gained election to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW.
Over the decades, Peter has exhibited widely across the UK and internationally and shown with five of the Royal Societies. His work is held in prominent collections including the British Council, Nan Yang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), and notable patrons such as Lord Morton of Shuna, Lord Max Rayne, Lady Graham, Lady Nairn, Robbie Coltrane, Gaby Roslyn, The Western Baths Club (Glasgow), and North London Hospice. He is also a published author-the book An Introduction to Painting Still Life reflects his studio practice and mastery over both oil and watercolour.
Today, living and working in Glasgow, Peter divides his time between the serenity of his 'Greek' Thomson studio and global painting expeditions. His intuitive, energetic brushwork and fearless exploration of colour have earned him a reputation as one of the most engaging and distinctive voices in contemporary British painting.