Peter Kuhfeld
(BORN 1952)Painter of landscapes, townscapes, portraits and interiors in oils. Born in Cheltenham, he trained at Leicester Polytechnic from 1972-1976 and at the RA Schools under Peter Greenham from 1977-1980 where he was awarded the David Murray Landscape Prize.1978 and 1979, a silver medal for drawing and the Dooley Prize for anatomical drawing.
Between 1980 and 1981, he also received the Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Scholarship and the Richard Ford Scholarship to Spain. He held his first solo exhibition at the Highgate Gallery, London, in 1983 and he has subsequently exhibited in London galleries including the New Grafton Gallery, at the RA from 1978, at the RWA, RP and in the provinces. From 1976 to 1978 he taught at Rugby School of Art and in 1978 was made a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Painters and Stainers. His cool toned, observant paintings combine detail with a broad technique, depicting form in terms of light and colour.
(Taken from the Handbook of Modern British Painting 1900-1980)"
Grazioso, delivato e Vero"
Biography of Peter Kuhfeld
1952
Born Cheltenham,Glos
1972 -76
Studied at Leicester Polytechnic
1976 -78
Taught Drawing and Painting at Rugby School of Art
1977 -80
Studied at the Royal Academy Schools under Peter Greenham CBE RA
1978
Created Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painters/Stainers
1978 -79
Royal Academy of Art Silver Medal for Drawing
Royal College of Surgeons “Dooley Prize” for Anatomical Drawing
1980
Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Scholarship
National Portrait Gallery, Imperial Tobacco Award Exhibition
1981
Richard Ford Scholarship to Spain
1983
Highgate Gallery, London. One-man show
1986 -93
Jon Leigh Gallery Guildford
1986
Elected Member of the New English Art Club
1987
Royal Academy Schools Tradition, Highgate Gallery, London
The Long Perspective, National Trust Foundation for Art, Agnew’s London
New English Art Club, W H Patterson Fine Arts, London
1988
A Personal Choice, Sir Brinsley Ford, The Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn Festival
1989
Agnew’s, London. One-man show
Salute to Turner, National Trust Foundation for Art, Agnew’s London
1990
Images of Italy, Accademia Italiana, London
The Broad Horizon, National Trust Foundation for Art, Agnew’s London
The Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
1991
Five New English Painters, W H Patterson Fine Arts, London
Agnew’s London. One-man show
1992
The Order of Merit: New portrait Drawings commissioned by
H M The Queen, National Portrait Gallery, London
Elected Member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
1993
Select Six, W H Patterson Fine Arts, London
1994
Peter Greenham CBE RA Memorial Exhibition, Christie’s LondonAn
Introduction to Peter Kuhfeld´s Catlaogue 2004
Graceful and true, these enchanting words I have cribbed form the review of the current exhibition at the Ashmolean because they so perfectly sum up Peter Kuhfeld´s work.
He paints trivialities (as do I) with ardour and pleasure. Madly politically incorrect he is a non-confirmist with the courage and delicious skill to paint what delights him. He was lucky to have been at the R.A. Schools at a brilliant moment when the team of teachers consisted of Peter Greenham, Ruskin Speer and that reticent and rare painter Norman Blamey. All three very different characters but united in their belief and enthusiasm for drawing and painting what the eye sees - the wonder of the visible world. This viewpoint gav an edge to the teaching, drawing was strictly taugh,there was a right and a wrong, feeling was no enough, facts,construction and an alertness to the character of a subject. Not just the labour but the intelligence of appraisal - the necessity to be "on the wing" now and then as well as the stamina which demands rectitude.
These student years have blossomed for Peter Kuhfeld, given exercise for his fine draughtsmanship and enabled him to profit from his rare gift of´good tone´. This quality is hard to define in words - perhaps the musical term ´perfect pitch´ best sums it up. He is able to make colours sing and spread air between and beyond his figures. Turn his picture upside down and you will have a balance of forms and colours achieved by a mixture of bold and nervous brushstrokes - and a freshness. Freshness is a tricky commodity too often attained by a loss of weight, of form, and preciousness, a fear of pushing a subject through - but oh, what a lovely thing when upheld by good drawing and the apprehension of the needs of a fine painting. Graceful and TRUE.
Kenneth Clark writing about Wilson Steer remembers the old painter revelling in pretty things, Chelsea porcelain, late Chinese and even Japanese bronzes - "I was always grateful to him for encouraging me in my own taste at the time when it seemed almost immoral to like anything which was not ugly".
So here we have a show of paintings done for the painter´s pleasure and our pleasure - a treat."
John Ward CBE, RO
Bilting Court
April 2004
