Peter Thwaites was born in 1947. He grew up and spent most of his working life as a Land Agent in Cornwall. He is self-taught and while he paints mainly in watercolours, he also enjoys acrylics and oils. He is best known for his watercolour studies of fungi and was commissioned by the British Mycological Society to produce a Pocket Guide to Common Fungi which was followed by a poster on the same theme. He also enjoys painting watercolour studies of wildflowers as well as landscapes and seascapes. His work has been shown in various exhibitions including the Royal Watercolour Society in London. Peter is now retired and lives with his wife Christine near Duloe in South East Cornwall. They have one daughter who lives in Bath.