Lloyd Peters

Lloyd Peters (1913-1999)

Lloyd Peters was born in Whitby, Ontario. At 13 years old, Peters began attending Saturday morning classes at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD), where he was taught by Group of Seven artist Arthur Lismer. Later in his twenties, Peters enrolled in night school classes while working as a commercial artist at Eatons. Through his work at Eatons, Peters met another Group of Seven artist, Frank Carmichael, who taught Peters box design when he was first starting out as a commercial artist. Peters also received considerable help from John (Jack) Martin, a member of the Society of Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers (CPE) and close associate of the Group of Seven. Peters remained a commercial artist until 1963, after which Peters found work at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. In 1977 Peters quit his position at the hospital to begin painting full-time with plans to move to a small cabin on the outskirts of Trout Creek. Peters had a van specially outfitted for his painting needs, and he would drive around the Trout Creek area seeking vantage points. Peters painted his scenes on the spot, in all kinds of weather, often capturing the mood of the day in his work. During the Second World War, he joined the Shore Patrol at Halifax and produced many watercolour sketches of Canadian Naval activities on the east coast. Four of such watercolours are held within the collections at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Peters died in 1999.