Peter van Breda

Snow Flurry, St Martin's, Stamford

Dedicated to working outdoors, Peter van Breda’s enthusiasm for painting is driven by his excitement at capturing the light, mood and atmosphere of a scene on canvas. Peter was born in Zimbabwe in 1957, and now lives and works in Lincolnshire in the heart of England. His childhood experience of growing up on a remote farm in Zimbabwe, close to nature, has strongly influenced his perception and ability to read his surroundings. London, Sussex and now Lincolnshire, where Peter’s studio is located, provides great stimulus and a strong contrast with the African landscapes Peter left behind. He has travelled widely and painted in many major cities, providing great diversity in subject matter. Peter’s chosen method is to work directly from the subject, en plein air, and he draws much of his inspiration from the immediacy of the process. He works at speed, and to dynamic effect, to capture an effect of light and atmosphere before it changes. From Botswana to Venice to the Thames, Peter’s paintings offer bursts of colour and a magical evocation of time and place that invites the viewer to share an experience. Light on water and the bridges of London that criss-cross the Thames have always been of foremost interest to Peter in his painting. He first came to us in the City at Gladwell’s and charmed the gallery with his scenes of St. Paul’s and Tower Bridge, amongst others. The Pool of London may be a bit behind us now but Peter has kept up to date with where the gallery is today, by creating masterful depictions of the nearby Chelsea Embankment and more recently some delightful scenes of Stamford, close to our regional gallery Gladwells Rutland. A keen traveller, Peter makes regular visits to Venice. Here he delights in painting the cityscape in the early morning and late evening, the light dancing on the water enabling him to capture the serene beauty of the city away from the bustling crowds. Peter’s work has been exhibited extensively, including with the Royal Society of British Artists. His work is widely collected and hangs in private and corporate collections. “Growing up in Africa, its always been a big thing for me, the light, and being out in the outdoors so it’s a natural progression for me to work outdoors. I feel comfortable, although painting is more difficult sometimes because you’ve got the elements to fight against, but that gives you the spontaneity that gives you that extra vitality in a painting. My painting is about atmosphere and light and the mood that you are trying to get when you walk through the streets. Trying to find that balance of light is what excites me.” - Peter van Breda