Gentle Peter inspired many to follow him

Peter Woof, who died on September 27 aged 55, trained at the Royal Academy, but parenthood led him away from paints and oils.

Concerned about the effect of the fumes on his children, he began working with coloured pencils, becoming a ‘silver signature’ member of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society and receiving many awards for his work.

A member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art since 2010, he had two drawings in its annual exhibition.

Mr Woof worked at The Studio in Park Street, Leamington, with his friend and fellow artist John Davies.

He said: Mr Davies remembers Mr Woof as a “first-rate” artist.

“He was an extremely good draughtsman and his life drawing techniques were really something else.

“He was pretty much unflappable. He was a very nice guy to have around and always very supportive.”

Born in Lydiate near Liverpool, he attended Wigan art school in 1972 at the age of sixteen. In 1975 he won three prizes at the Bootle open art exhibition in Liverpool and travelled to London to study at the City & Guilds of London art school.

He continued training at the Royal Academy, winning the prize for the best non figurative work in his final year.

He met his wife Judith at a church in London in 1976 and the couple married in 1979, going on to have two children, Matthew and Louise.

Peter returned to painting in his later years and often wielded a larger paintbrush at Northgate Methodist Church in Warwick where he helped maintain the church buildings.

He was diagnosed with cancer in July. Mrs Woof said: “People used words like kind, gentle and unassuming but he was certainly passionate about his art.

“He had a real sense of humour and a sense of fun. He was very proud of his children and all they have achieved and was a very loving husband.”

Coloured Pencil Society spokesman Pat Heffer said: “The UKCPS have lost a very special artist and friend who inspired many people to take up coloured pencils with his beautifully detailed work. Peter will be remembered as a quiet, modest, very friendly, unassuming man, who turned up at every exhibition to support the society, regardless of where in the UK it was held, and who received many awards for his amazing pictures.

“Peter’s death is a great loss to the world of coloured pencil art, but his pictures will live on to show what can be acheived by using this little-known medium.”