Peter Kuhfeld (b. 1952)
Shadows in the Courtyard
Signed 'Kuhfeld' (bottom right)
oil on canvas
Frame size 13 x 15.5 x 1 inches, no glass.
Peter Kuhfeld (born 4 March 1952) is an English figurative painter known for his portraits and genre scenes. Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, he is the only child of a former German prisoner of war and an English classical pianist. He is married to Cathryn Kuhfeld (née Showan), also a figurative painter, and they have two daughters who frequently appear in their works.
Kuhfeld’s artistic training began at Leicester School of Art (1972–1976), where he earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. From 1976 to 1978, he taught drawing and painting at Rugby School of Art before enrolling at the Royal Academy Schools (1977–1980), studying under Peter Greenham CBE, RA. During this period, he was named a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painters (1978) and won several accolades, including the David Murray Landscape Prize (1978–1979), the Royal Academy Silver Medal for Drawing (1979), the Royal College of Surgeons Dooley Prize for Anatomical Drawing (1979), and the Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation and Richard Ford Scholarships (1980) for study in Spain. In 1981, he taught painting and drawing at the Royal Academy Schools.
In 1985, Kuhfeld’s first major exhibition at the New Grafton Gallery, alongside painter Christa Ga, marked him as a key figure in the New English Art movement. He was elected to the New English Art Club (NEAC) in 1986 and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) in 1992, resigning from the latter in 2005. His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions (from 1978), New Grafton Gallery, Agnew, W.H. Patterson, and Petley Fine Art, with solo shows at venues like Highgate Gallery (1983–1985) and Brian Sinfield Gallery (2003).
Kuhfeld’s notable commissions include portraits of Prince William and Prince Harry (1986) for Prince Charles, a patron of his work, and the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (2011). He painted Harry Patch, the last surviving World War I soldier, in 2009, calling it “a privilege.” Other significant works include a portrait of Holocaust survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch (2020) for the Royal Collection, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant (2012), and the baptism of Prince George (2013). In 2023, King Charles III selected him to paint his coronation state portrait, unveiled at the National Gallery in 2025.
Kuhfeld’s paintings, often in oil on canvas or board, depict intimate domestic scenes, landscapes, and portraits with a focus on light and atmosphere. His works, such as Bowl of Oranges and Cornish Days, are held in collections like the National Gallery and have been auctioned at Bonhams, Christie’s, and Dreweatts, reflecting his market presence. He remains an active member of the NEAC, with King Charles III as its patron