Roy Peterson is as refreshing and spirited as his paintings.

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Roy developed his early interest in structural art forms by working with ceramics, sculpture and painting. His artistic talent was acknowledged when he was awarded a distinction for his ceramic work at a major Florida arts festival. His keen sense of form and colour was instantly employed in the Street of Dreams project, designing and painting extravagant murals in the multi-million dollar homes of the rich and famous.

Roy’s paintings though full of contradictions, still begin with those early representational ideas. During this process his work becomes an amalgamation of spontaneous and reactive gestures as he adds and removes certain elements to focus the viewer’s eye and emotions.

Roy further challenges convention by opting not to paint on an upright canvas, but preferring a flat surface, which provides the freedom to experiment and create tensions and harmony between the viscosity and rigidity of his materials.  The result is work that extends from considered abstraction, pyrotechnic gaiety and provocative austerity revealing subtle continuities and a cunning wit.

In the summer of 2001 Roy moved from California to England with his partner and dog. He now splits his time between working for Stonewall Equality and developing his paintings in his South London studio while working on arts projects such as Bigger Picture Gallery and future exhibitions.

Recent exhibitions include Bigger Picture Gallery Founders Show 2009, Bigger Picture Summer Group Show 2010, Starbucks Coffee Group (City of London) 2010 to present, Dish Catreing (Greenwich), The Scarf Gallery (Crystal Palace, London) 2011 to present.