Born in Zimbabwe in 1957, Peter van Breda is a British-based painter celebrated for his vibrant en plein air landscapes and cityscapes, in which light, atmosphere and movement take centre stage. Growing up on a remote farm in Zimbabwe gave Peter an early and instinctive connection to the natural world, sharpening his awareness of changing weather, shifting light and the character of a landscape - qualities that remain fundamental to his painting today. Now based in Lincolnshire, he has spent much of his life in Britain, with London, Sussex and the English countryside providing a striking contrast to the expansive African landscapes of his childhood. A dedicated plein air painter, Peter works directly before his subject, responding rapidly and intuitively to the scene in front of him. The very unpredictability of working outdoors is part of its appeal: fading sunlight, moving clouds, changing reflections and the rhythm of a busy city demand quick decisions, lending his paintings their distinctive vitality and spontaneity.

A keen traveller, Peter has painted extensively across Britain, Europe and further afield, moving with equal confidence between the waterways of Botswana, the streets of London and Paris, and the canals and piazzas of Venice. Water is a recurring presence in his work, offering an ever-changing surface through which he can explore reflections, movement and brilliant passages of colour. Returning regularly to the city, he is drawn particularly to the quieter hours of early morning and evening, when crowds disperse and the architecture is transformed by reflected light from the lagoon and canals. His work has been exhibited extensively, including with the Royal Society of British Artists, and is held in private and corporate collections internationally. A longstanding artist with Gladwell & Patterson, Peter continues to find fresh possibilities in both familiar landscapes and new destinations, translating the constantly changing world around him into paintings alive with light.