Watercolour Artists Gallery

Peter Woolley was born in Derby in 1960. He was educated at Spondon Comprehensive School, where he received Art tuition from the late Wilfred Ball. Leaving school at 16, he worked for 6 years at Rolls Royce in Derby, ultimately as an Assistant Buyer. He left the company in 1982 to more fully pursue his interests in painting. After early experimentation with subject and medium, he settled for the pure watercolour style he now employs. He began painting full-time in December 1986.

In June 1991, Peter presented his PENNINE WAY EXHIBITION, a collection of 50 finished paintings and a portfolio of working sketches depicting Britain's first official Long Distance footpath. He has since repeated his success with the COAST TO COAST, THREE PEAKS and WEST HIGHLAND WAY Exhibitions, and all his subsequent work has been, in some way, directly related to his experiences on walking/backpacking expeditions.

Peter Woolley's original work can be found in private collections throughout Great Britain and overseas (principally in Norway, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Australia), and many paintings have been published as Limited Edition prints and Art cards.
Besides touring extensively in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, where he gathers his raw material in the form of outdoor sketches, he also teaches watercolour to beginners and runs weekend courses across the North of England throughout the summer months.

March 2005 saw the launch of his first book, published by David & Charles, entitled Drawing Towards Watercolour. Several DVD video Collections featuring Peter Woolley, produced by the SAA and Pyjama Video are also available, along with his successful Watercolour Studio CD-Rom.

He has appeared on TV, on The Painting and Drawing Channel (Sky Digital Channel 167), and has recently been appointed art tutor on board Saga and Fred Olsen Cruises.

A Note From Peter

"It's a privilege to be able to make a living at something I'm passionate about and to be able to come into contact with so many interesting people of all ages, and from all walks of life, who are as enthusiastic about watercolour as myself.

I believe everyone has the ability to learn the basic techniques involved in watercolour painting, an activity that can bring out the extremes of emotion; for a beginner, it can be quite an eye-opener! On workshops I've seen tears of both joy and sheer desperation.

My own inspiration comes directly from the landscape in which I live and spend many hours walking and exploring. Wensleydale in North Yorkshire can be a beautiful, serene, and contemplative place one minute, wild and challenging the next. I hope these qualities come through in my paintings."