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Peter Foyle

Originally from Dorset, Peter's interest in art started from a young age - as a teenager he loved nothing more than cycling around the country lanes near his home with his easel and paints strapped to his bicycle, seeking out interesting subjects to paint en plein air. Whilst still at school, he won a few awards for his work and sold several paintings and commissions.

After school Peter studied at St. Martin's School of Art in London, graduating in 1986 when he was a finalist in the prestigious 'Readers Digest Young Illustrators Award.' He practised as a freelance artist and illustrator until 1990 when he and his wife opened their own gallery in Ayrshire, where Peter currently lives and works.

Peter's compositions cover a range of subject matter, preferring to paint whatever gives him a sense of visual excitement through the quality of light. Scenes from his travels throughout Italy and France feature strongly throughout his work, depicting the sparkling light of Venetian water scenes to sun-dappled cafes and piazzas in Tuscany and Provence. However, he also enjoys drawing on inspiration on the diverse landscapes closer to home - from tiny fishing villages with light bouncing off the sea, to rugged rural landscapes and the atmospheric cityscapes of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Equally, he also loves capturing a still life composition from within his studio. This varied and adaptable style has earned him a number of prizes including the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians Award at the Royal Glasgow Institute. He paints almost entirely in oil on Belgian linen, but occasionally produces watercolours, especially as sketches when travelling.

"I see my work as drawings in paint, working quickly and freely across the whole canvas. I try to convey an impression of the atmosphere and light rather than a detailed description of the subject. In particular, I'm inspired by the way light and reflections can play across ordinary objects and familiar places, giving them a fresh beauty."

The Strathearn Gallery | 32 West High Street | Crieff | Perthshire | PH7 4DL