About 

Peter Davis is a prize-winning fine artist whose portraits and urban landscape paintings capture contemporary life. He draws inspiration from the people he meets and the places he visits, and his work reflects today’s societal narratives. Many of his portraits encourage the viewer to reconsider their preconceptions and see the world from another person's perspective. Through portraiture, he aims to foster understanding and invite reflection on subjects that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Previous works have explored themes including mental health, race, gender, ageing, displacement and technology addiction. 

His paintings are held in museum, institutional, and private collections and he has exhibited widely, including the Aesthetica Art Prize (2018), the John Moores Painting Prize (2020), the Cass Art Prize (2025), the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery (2024 and 2026), and the Royal Scottish Academy (2026). 

Alongside exhibiting in public galleries, he is represented by a small number of commercial galleries, with an urban landscape print edition currently available through The Whitworth Art Gallery. He also undertakes portrait commissions for a broad range of clients, from families and private individuals to education and business leaders. His PDF, Guide to Commissioning a Portrait, is available free of charge on request by emailing [email protected].
 
He is an elected member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP), and in addition to his studio practice, he is the archivist for MAFA and delivers painting workshops in schools across the UK.