Peter Layzell

Peter Layzell is a British born artist who was inspired to become a painter at an early age by his "Grandad Les" who painted in a shed at the bottom of his garden. Graduating from Coventry Polytechnic in Fine Art under Alan Dyer and Harry Weinberger in 1984, Layzell has since exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery's annual Exhibition and with Portal Painters in London, Edinburgh and Boston.

Peter's travels in Northern Europe allowed him to pursue and develop his interest in Flemish Renaissance paintings further; particularly the polished panel paintings of Van Eyck, Bouts, Roger Van Der Weyden and Gerard David.He works in a variety of media but uses mainly oil paints on wood panel. The influence of the Dutch masters on Peter's work is clear to see; the dimly lit childhood figures in his paintings emanate a melancholic quality reminiscent of Vermeer and Rembrandt. In referencing this style, Layzell carves out a distinctly unique identity within the context of contemporary and modern portrait painters.