











Peter Doig
Doig paints landscapes that look like memories dissolving. Canoes on still water, ski slopes, forests, prisons, tropical beaches. Each one is based on a photograph, usually found or taken casually, then painted at a scale and with a surface texture that turns the source material into something between recollection and hallucination. The details blur. The colours intensify. You recognise the scene without being able to place it.

Biography
He was born in Edinburgh, grew up in Trinidad, and was educated in Canada before studying at the Chelsea School of Art and Saint Martins in London. The three landscapes of his childhood, Caribbean, Canadian, and Scottish, appear throughout his work in overlapping combinations. White Canoe (1990-91), one of his best-known paintings, shows a canoe reflected on a lake that could be in Ontario or in a dream.
He moved to Trinidad in 2002 and has been based there since, painting in a studio that was formerly a space for calypso performances. The Trinidad paintings are looser and more tropical: palm trees, figures on beaches, Trinidadian architecture. The palette shifted from the greens and greys of his Canadian and London work to the blues and oranges of the Caribbean.
His auction prices are high. White Canoe sold for 11.3 million dollars in 2007. Swamped sold for 25.9 million in 2015. He is uncomfortable with the market attention and rarely discusses prices. He paints slowly, producing relatively few works each year, which increases the scarcity and therefore the prices, which increases the attention, which increases his discomfort.
Timeline
- 1990Painted "Okahumkee (Some other Peoples Blues)" aged 31.
- 1991Painted "Architect's Home in the Ravine" aged 32.
- 1996Painted "Saint Anton (Flat Light)" aged 37.
- 1999Painted "The Heart of Old San Juan" aged 40.
- 2000Painted "Gasthof zur Muldentalsperre" aged 41.
- 2004Painted "Red Boat (Imaginary Boys)" aged 45.
Notable Works
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Where to See Peter Doig
6 museums worldwide.
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2 worksTate
Tate Britain, United Kingdom
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2 worksNational Galleries Scotland
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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1 worksArt Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
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1 worksMusée National d'Art Moderne
Centre Pompidou-Metz, France
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1 worksWalker Art Gallery
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions
How does peter doig paint?
The eerie, spectral feeling of the composition is enhanced by the artist’s application of thin washes of paint.What is peter doig known for?
Peter Doig is known for his landscape paintings that resemble dissolving memories. His paintings often depict canoes on still water, ski slopes, forests, prisons, and tropical beaches.What is Peter Doig's most famous work?
Peter Doig's 2000 painting *100 Years Ago* is among his best-known works. It depicts a ghostly, bearded man in a canoe, gazing out at the viewer. The sea is still, and the sky is a vivid pink; on the horizon sits an island. The composition has an eerie, spectral feeling, enhanced by Doig's application of thin washes of paint, which in some areas have been left to run down the canvas. The canoe is a recurring image in Doig's paintings, and has associations with his upbringing in Canada. However, the artist has said that he was first inspired to include it in his work after watching the horror film *Friday the 13th*. The figure in the painting is taken from the cover of the 1972 album *Duane Allman: An Anthology*, which included a photograph of the band’s bassist sitting in a canoe. The background is derived from a separate photograph depicting Carrera, a prison island off the coast of Trinidad; a country where the artist lived for a short time as a child.What should I know about Peter Doig's prints?
Peter Doig is a Scottish painter who also produces prints. Born in Edinburgh in 1959, he spent his childhood in Trinidad and Canada before moving to London to study art. He is known for his figurative paintings, often dreamlike and evocative. Doig's prints are often based on or related to his paintings, exploring similar themes and imagery. He uses various printmaking techniques, including etching, screen printing, and lithography, sometimes combining them in a single work. His prints are not mere reproductions of his paintings. Instead, they are original works of art that explore the possibilities of the print medium. Doig often embraces the unique qualities of printmaking, such as layering, texture, and the subtle variations that can occur during the printing process. He exploits these qualities to create prints that have their own distinct character. Some of his well-known prints include those related to his paintings "Canoe Lake" and "White Canoe". These prints often feature the same motifs as the paintings, such as canoes, figures in water, and snowy landscapes. They allow collectors to acquire works by Doig at a lower price point than his paintings, while still offering a unique and valuable addition to any art collection.What style or movement did Peter Doig belong to?
Peter Doig's work resists easy categorisation, though it is often associated with a return to painting in contemporary art. Born in Scotland in 1959, Doig spent his childhood in Trinidad and Canada before moving to London to study art. While his paintings incorporate elements of various styles, including Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Surrealism, he does not adhere strictly to any single movement. Some critics see his work as part of a broader trend of figurative painting that emerged in the late 20th century, in reaction to the dominance of conceptual art. Doig himself has spoken of his admiration for artists such as Edvard Munch, Claude Monet, and Gerhard Richter, and their influence can be seen in his use of colour, light, and composition. His approach involves layering imagery and experimenting with different techniques, creating a dreamlike quality. Doig's paintings often depict scenes from his own life or from found photographs, but they are not simply representational. Instead, they evoke a sense of memory, imagination, and the passage of time.What techniques or materials did Peter Doig use?
Peter Doig's paintings often feature thin washes of paint, sometimes left to run down the canvas, creating an eerie, spectral feeling. He works primarily in oil paint. Examination of works by J.M.W. Turner, a British artist working from 1798-1850, reveals insights into painting techniques of the period. Turner's earlier work with watercolours influenced his oil painting, giving him an understanding of light-toned surfaces. He used transparent washes and optical mixing to create greens and blacks. Turner also favoured absorbent surfaces, which allowed him a rapid indication of the final colour. Brice Marden primed his cotton duck canvas with two coats of turps-thinned Flake White, sanding the surface when dry. He mixed standard artist's oil colour with a medium of wax and turpentine, keeping it warm on a hot plate. The mixture was applied with a brush and worked over, then manipulated with a large painting spatula and a small painting knife. For grounds, artists may use gessoed MDF, primed canvas stuck to MDF board, or primed canvas. Hog hair brushes are favoured for their springy resistance against the canvas, enabling a broader application of oil paint.What was Peter Doig known for?
Peter Doig, born in Edinburgh in 1959, is known for paintings that often evoke a sense of eerie stillness. His compositions frequently use thin washes of paint, sometimes allowing the paint to run down the canvas. Doig's images often incorporate motifs linked to his upbringing in Canada, such as canoes. The canoe in his work 100 Years Ago (2000) connects to his Canadian past, but he has said that the horror film Friday the 13th initially inspired him to include this object. The figure in the canoe in 100 Years Ago derives from the cover of Duane Allman: An Anthology (1972). The background comes from a photograph of Carrera, a prison island off the coast of Trinidad, where Doig briefly lived as a child.When did Peter Doig live and work?
Peter Doig was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1959. His family moved frequently during his childhood. They relocated to Trinidad in 1962, then to Canada in 1966. He studied at Wimbledon School of Art in London from 1979 to 1980, then at Saint Martin's School of Art from 1980 to 1983. He concluded his formal education at Chelsea School of Art, receiving his MA in 1990. Doig is known for incorporating personal experiences and memories into his paintings. These reflect his upbringing in diverse locations. He lived and worked in London throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, contributing to the city's art scene. In 2002, Doig moved back to Trinidad, where he established a studio. He also taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 2004 until 2017. As of the early 2020s, Doig continues to live and work in Trinidad, maintaining connections to both Europe and the Caribbean. His peripatetic life has had a clear impact on his artistic output.Where can i see peter doig paintings?
Peter Doig's works can be seen at Prints in the National Gallery of Art[4], National Gallery of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and 2 other museums worldwide.Where can I see Peter Doig's work?
Peter Doig's paintings are held in numerous public museum collections. These include institutions in both Europe and North America. In the United States, his work can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Dallas Museum of Art. In Canada, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa holds examples of his paintings. Within the United Kingdom, the Tate Gallery in London has several works by Doig. Other European museums include the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Doig's paintings appear frequently at auction. Major auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's regularly include his work in their contemporary art sales. These auctions take place in London, New York, and other international centres. It is advisable to check the auction catalogues of these houses for upcoming sales. Before travelling, confirm that specific works are on display, as museum collections often rotate their holdings.Where did peter doig go to school?
Peter Doig studied at the Chelsea School of Art and Saint Martins in London. He was also educated in Canada.Where was Peter Doig from?
Information about Peter Doig's place of birth is absent from the provided texts. However, the passages do offer insight into his artistic career and reception. Doig's work, particularly his oil paintings, gained attention in the 1990s. His 1990-1991 painting, *White Canoe*, achieved a record price for a living European painter in 2007. Early in his career, Doig's style contrasted with the prevailing trends of abstract expressionism and conceptual art. His paintings were considered too painterly and beautiful by some, even described as resembling "a Christmas card painted by mouth". Despite initial lack of commercial interest, his art found champions who recognised its originality. One review noted that his large-scale figurative oil painting delivered "the kind of jolt commonly associated with more esoteric media". Doig's paintings often blend remembered imagery with photographic sources, resulting in a unique aesthetic.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Peter Doig.
- [1] museum National Galleries Scotland Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Carnegie Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Walker Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum National Gallery of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum British Council Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] museum National Museum Cardiff Used for: museum holdings.
- [7] book 2019-05-01_Fine_Art_Connoisseur Used for: stylistic analysis.
- [8] book Arteditissue28may2021 Used for: stylistic analysis.
- [9] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography, museum holdings, stylistic analysis.
- [10] book guggenheim-australianvision00wald Used for: museum holdings.
- [11] book guggenheim-emergingartists100wald Used for: biography.
- [12] book Matz, Jesse; , Lasting Impressions Used for: biography.
- [13] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [14] book Anfam, David A;Callen, Anthea. Techniques of the impressionists, Techniques of the great masters of art Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [15] book Landauer, Susan, The not-so-still life : a century of California painting and sculpture Used for: museum holdings.
- [16] book Penny Huntsman, Thinking About Art Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-02. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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